The expansion of the bioscience and biotechnology industry is paying big dividends throughout all of Oklahoma, contributing more than $6.7 billion in economic activity and supporting more than 51,000 jobs. That’s a lot of moolah, if you ask us.
The 27-acre, $100 million University Research Park, part of the Oklahoma Health Center complex, is home to 37 science-based companies including Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Accele Biopharma, ARL - Analytical Research Laboratories, Moleculera Labs, Cytovance Biologics, Oklahoma Blood Institute, COARE Biotechnology and Dean McGee Eye Institute just to name a few.
This area is also home to i2E (Innovation to Enterprise) which focuses on helping small start-up businesses thrive in Oklahoma.
Additions in the community will include the 95,000 square-feet GE Global Research Center, which will open its doors in the coming months. The project will add 130 high-tech jobs and is expected to have a direct and indirect economic impact of $13 million on the state and local economies.
The benefits in this growing community will not only have an immediate impact on today’s workforce, but also on future generations. The GE Foundation has pledged resources to help ensure that Oklahoma students are prepared for the growing demand of high-tech jobs through the introduction of STEM Empowers OK – a statewide initiative to engage and inspire greater interest among high school students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
It’s an exciting time to be in OKC for sure. The advancements in these areas are sure to have a lasting impact for years to come.
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