It didn’t take long for two world-renowned scientific institutions to reach the conclusion that Oklahoma is doing things right to encourage innovative commercial enterprises. It took even less time to cite state policy as the model for the rest of the nation to follow.

The Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center “has made substantial progress in its two years of existence,” wrote Walt Plosila of Battelle Memorial Institute and Michael Crowley of the National Science Foundation after they reviewed the organization.

“It should be noted that all states have struggled with creation of commercialization models, but Oklahoma seems to have moved further ahead faster than any other state in design and implementation of a model that is targeted and effective. “Oklahoma has emerged as a national model of technology commercialization approaches in a relatively short time.”

Plosila, vice president for public technology management at Battelle and Crowley, manager of the Small Business Innovation Research program at the National Science Foundation, reviewed the center early this month. The results have just been released, much to the delight of those who pushed for such a center.

“When we started designing the tech center three years ago, we hoped it would be held up as a model by people like Dr. Plosila and Dr. Crowley for other states to follow,” said Cheryl Choumbakos, director of technology development and marketing for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. “We felt that it would happen, but we never dreamed that it would be this quick.” Plans for the commercialization center were developed in 1998 by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, which then solicited bids from commercial entities that could run the center. The Oklahoma Technology Development Corp., which has the chamber as one of its partners, submitted the winning bid.

Randy Goldsmith, at that time president of the Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence, was tapped as the center’s first president, working under the aegis of OCAST. He still is in that role.

“At OCAST, we were firmly of the view that the tech center was doing an excellent job pursuing its mission,” said Robert G. McCampbell, board chairman of the state technology agency. “It was gratifying to see the National Science Foundation and Battelle Memorial Institute come to the same conclusion.

“Oklahoma has the ability to be an even more significant player in the high-tech economy. The tech center is performing a vital role in enhancing Oklahoma’s competitiveness in this area.”

The tech center supports basic and applied research in the state by helping technology transfer from laboratories to the business community.

It also provides seed capital for innovative firms and products. From there, the center helps foster Oklahoma’s manufacturing sector through enhanced competitiveness in national and international markets.

The center has done all these things well because it is market- driven by industry and responds to client needs, the report said.

“The tech center is well-respected, enjoys widespread support among all its constituencies and has seized its opportunities wisely to make substantial movement forward in accomplishing its goals,” according to the report.

With four commercial directors in place in different parts of Oklahoma, the center is “playing an important and generally neglected role in positioning Oklahoma entrepreneurs to grow viable enterprises,” the report said.

The tech center simultaneously addresses the issues of technology, markets, capital and people. “By bringing the responsibility for these functions together in one organization, entrepreneurs can secure more comprehensive, integrated support.”

Beyond the tech center, the report said OCAST made good moves early on by establishing the center outside government and insisting on a business model. “OCAST is securing very talented individuals that could not be replicated in the public sector in terms of salary.

“And, OCAST, properly in our opinion, is giving the necessary flexibility to (the tech center) to respond to the varying needs of entrepreneurial clients.”

Goldsmith, said McCampbell, has done a “remarkable job in the two years the tech center has been in existence.”

“Randy Goldsmith’s outstanding leadership of the tech center has been a key factor in its success,” McCampbell said. “OCAST is pleased that our investment of state dollars in the tech center has resulted in (it) performing so well for so many Oklahoman’s

“Oklahomans should be proud that we have a tech center, which is not only doing an outstanding job of fulfilling its technology commercialization mission, but is recognized as a national leader in the area.”