Oklahoma showcases tech-based initiatives
Conference visitors get a view of state's efforts.

By Jim Stafford

Published: November 1, 2006

Early birds to this week's national conference of the State Science and Technology Institute received a primer Tuesday on Oklahoma's tech-based economic development initiatives and afterward asked questions that have long vexed state leaders.

For instance, a visitor from North Carolina listened to passionate sermons from Michael Anderson, president of the Presbyterian Health Foundation and Hershel Lamirand, president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation, then asked a practical question.

"How does Oklahoma balance the demands of rural Oklahomans with their urban counterparts?"

"Inclusion," answered Robin Roberts, executive vice president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. The scope of Oklahoma's tech-based economic development includes Ardmore to the south, Stillwater and Ponca City to the north, as well as the Tulsa metro area to the east, she said.

"We have a huge foundation, the Noble Foundation, that is located (in Ardmore), a massive research facility that is world class," Roberts said of the inclusion of rural areas in the benefits of tech-based economic development. "Also, some would argue that Stillwater is in a fairly rural part of the state and that is where Oklahoma State University's main campus is. And Ponca City has a put a technology center in place.

"The argument for our Legislature is that good science is funded by some of those research dollars, it doesn't matter where it is in the state. That is helpful as we try and get past Tulsa, Oklahoma City and push out into the state."

The "preconference" program Tuesday at the Presbyterian Health Foundation Conference Center also included Dr. Stephen Prescott, president of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; Dr. William Canfield, president of the Genzyme Glycobiology Research Institute; Greg Main, president and chief executive officer of i2E Inc; Michael Cawley, president and chief executive of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation; and Joseph Ferretti, senior vice president and provost of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Another question that challenged the Oklahomans: Bubba Weir with the Mississippi Technology Alliance in Jackson, wanted to know how Oklahoma "reconciled state dollars that you are investing in state companies with legislators knowing that there is that potential for them to leave the state?"

At i2E, the nonprofit corporation that manages the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center through a contract with the state's technology-based economic development agency, the response is to point to its "track record," said Main. I2E has worked with about 600 tech-based companies throughout its history, he said.

"You can count the number that have left the state on one hand," Main said, holding up five fingers. "It's something that can and it will happen for business reasons, but the point is if you go to places that everyone agrees has the most vibrant technology based economy, one the thing that characterizes them is there is a lot of ‘churn' in their economies. That's a good thing, not a bad thing.

"If there are state dollars in a company and it leaves, then it is immediately required to repay those dollars."

Afterward, Weir said he left the meeting impressed with Oklahoma's tech-based economic development efforts.

"You guys have the tools in place," he said before boarding a bus for an afternoon tour of the MAPS projects, led by former Mayor Kirk Humphreys. "This is a great opportunity to showcase them around the country."

The conference continues today and Thursday at the Cox Convention Center. About 350 people are expected to attend the conference, said Sheri Stickley, a vice president with SSTI, which is a consortium of state and research-based economic development officers.