The mission of the EDGE Policy Board is to bolster Oklahoma’s long-term economic growth by investing the earnings from the EDGE endowment in the state’s knowledge infrastructure.  Technology-based research and development, commercialization of technology and entrepreneurial business successes attract capital, create more high-paying jobs, expand and diversify the state’s economy, and provide greater prosperity for Oklahomans now and in the future.

 Investments from the EDGE Fund are directed toward:

• Expanding directly the number of researchers, technicians, support services and associated activity within Oklahoma
• Increasing the formation and growth of advanced technology companies in Oklahoma
• Leveraging additional federal research grants and/or privately funded research into Oklahoma research institutions
• Improving the health status and quality of life for Oklahoma

 The EDGE Fund is uniquely designed to strengthen Oklahoma’s technology-based economy and to attract federal funds.  Because of these distinctive characteristics, only the EDGE Fund can use state money to:

1. Make multi-million dollar investments into competitively selected technology-based research and development projects;
2. Direct investments toward the applied research needs that are requested by Oklahoma business sectors;
3. Use a variety of different funding instruments to maximize the economic returns to Oklahoma citizens (grants, contacts, gifts, loans, partnerships) depending upon the best investment strategies;
4. Give stated preference to collaborative proposals that involve researchers from multiple institutions and active businesses partners;
5. Manage the investment decision-making process to bring together the most powerful combinations of researchers and businesses; and
6. Spend public money for the specific purpose of increasing the state’s institutional research and development capacity.

 CREATE THE RESEARCH CAPITAL OF THE PLAINS

The 2004 Economic Development Generating Action Plan from Governor Henry stated that the EDGE endowment will transform Oklahoma into the “Research Capital of the Plains.”  Investments from the $1 billion endowment will fund all the key actions that will allow Oklahoma to become a center of powerful research that will support a vigorous economy—this is the single most important action that Oklahoma can take to thrust itself into a business leadership position.  When fully funded, an endowment of $1 billion could generate $35 million to $40 million per year.

• • Create an EDGE Endowment of $1 billion to support research and the transfer of innovation and technology to the private sector.
  • This strategic investment will transform Oklahoma into the “Research Capital of the Plains.”
  • Research results will be directed toward innovation that will strengthen current Oklahoma businesses and create businesses that are likely to remain in the state.              

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• Background
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  Schedule of Events, Open Records Act, Conflict of Interest Statement