AN ECONOMIC CATALYST

Oregon BEST is fueling Oregon’s green economy by serving as an economic development catalyst, including via our Commercialization Grant Program, which helps Oregon businesses collaborating with Oregon university researchers to fast-track the transformation of research into new technologies, products, and jobs. Recent reports highlight Oregon’s potential to create new green jobs, ensure energy security, and thrive in the global clean-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 the sectors of sustainable built environment and renewable energy.

Oregon BEST helps Oregon universities secure research funding and expand research facilities, all of which helps create jobs and spin out new technologies. The funding and facilities benefit Oregon businesses, helping them fast-track their 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 sustainable built environment cluster that leads the U.S. in integrating processes, disciplines, and technologies.

Portland has been ranked the nation’s greenest city, and wind and wave 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

Oregon is building a robust statewide economy based on sustainability—from biofuels and bio-based products in rural Oregon to sustainable built environment design in urban centers. The state’s sustainable built environment 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 via our Commercialization Grant Program, making Oregon companies and Oregon universities more competitive.