I could feel it. You needed some more good news today. Luckily Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representative Suzanne Bonamici are working hard at the Federal level to make that good news happen. To the tune of ~$6 million in support of Oregon startups.
The $5,973,981 federal investment through the National Science Foundation’s Accelerating Research Translation program will be used by PSU to update promotion and tenure rules to reward applied work, provide seed grants for commercial projects, train students in entrepreneurship, and offer business coaching to launch local partnerships and university spin-offs.
“Oregon’s public universities produce top-tier scientific breakthroughs, and lab discoveries shouldn’t sit on a shelf when they could be creating good-paying jobs and growing our local economy,” Wyden said. “This federal award will help reward faculty who turn campus discoveries into viable startups, vibrant local industry partnerships, and practical solutions. It’s a tremendous win for Oregon’s innovation ecosystem and for training the next generation of scientific entrepreneurs.”
“Institutions of higher education like PSU are at the forefront of Oregon’s innovation—supporting and growing small businesses across our state,” said Merkley. “This nearly $6 million federal award will supercharge PSU’s work by expanding its capabilities and ability to utilize its research in real-world practical situations, ensuring Oregon continues to be a hub of ideas and economic development for decades to come.”
“I am thrilled that this grant will meaningfully support innovation and entrepreneurship projects across NW Oregon and empower faculty and students to learn, test, and demonstrate the groundbreaking products and services that will drive our scientific future. This investment will enable the next generation of scientific leaders to bring discoveries to market and fuel our region’s research economy,” Bonamici said.
More on this story as the news develops.
