AN ECONOMIC CATALYST

Oregon BEST is fueling Oregon’s green economy by serving as an economic development catalyst. Recent reports highlight Oregon’s potential to create new green jobs, ensure energy security, and thrive in the global green-tech marketplace. By connecting Oregon businesses with the state’s network of university researchers and shared-user research facilities, Oregon BEST facilitates university-industry collaborations that spark economic growth in green building and renewable energy. Oregon BEST helps Oregon universities secure research funding, which creates jobs and spins out new technologies. Research funding also benefits Oregon businesses: they can tap into research facilities to fast-track R&D, which drives economic impact, and boosts Oregon’s bottom line.

For a list of Oregon's university developed technologies currently available for commercialization, go to ICOregon.net.

WHY OREGON? WHY NOW?

For decades, Oregon has pioneered sustainable land use, community design, green transit, and renewable energy.

Our state is home to the nation’s first bottle bill, the country’s largest solar panel manufacturer, the best coastline in North America for wave energy development, and a green building cluster that leads the U.S. in integrating processes, disciplines, and technologies.

Portland was just ranked the nation’s greenest city, and wind energy development is booming.

Oregon’s green economy is taking off, supported by tax incentives and other state support. Oregon BEST is helping fuel that green economy by building on Oregon’s earned reputation as an international innovator across all aspects of sustainability.

COMMERCIALIZATION AND COMPETITIVENESS

Research shows Oregon can build a robust statewide economy based on sustainability—from biofuels and products in rural Oregon to green building design in urban centers. The state’s green building expertise is in demand around the world, and Oregon’s natural resource sectors are generating renewable energy from wind, waves, geothermal, and biomass. A report by the National Governor's Association and the Pew Center for the States stresses the importance of state investment in innovation, research, and development, because such investments pay dividends in the form of new companies and jobs. Oregon BEST is helping to commercialize university research and make Oregon companies more competitive.