Ideation & Developing a Funded Project
These resources help you refine ideas, build collaborations, and secure funding to launch or continue your research.
A. Previous Studies & Collaborations: Use prior work, internal and external collaborations, and conference engagement to shape impactful, fundable research questions.
B. Academic Conferences & OVPRP Institutes & Centers: Conferences and OVPRP institutes provide venues to share results, explore cross-disciplinary collaborations, and develop ideas with translational potential.
C. CFE R&CA & Office of Research Services (ORS): CFE Research & Creative Activities and ORS help identify sponsors, navigate guidelines, and submit competitive proposals.
Research Execution & Integrity
Once your project is funded, several offices support day-to-day operations, financial management, and research integrity.
1. Office of Research Services (ORS) – Agency Engagement: ORS assists with engaging sponsors, managing award terms, and ensuring compliance with funding requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
2. Shared Business Services Center (SBSC) – Business Operations: SBSC supports the day-to-day business of your project, including purchasing, reimbursements, and related administrative processes.
3. Research Financial Services (ReFS) – Financial Reporting: ReFS provides financial reporting, monitoring, and guidance so you can manage project budgets and meet sponsor requirements.
4. Office of Research Integrity – Ethics & Compliance: The Office of Research Integrity oversees human and animal subjects, conflict-of-interest management, and other compliance matters to ensure research is conducted responsibly.
Technology Transfer & Intellectual Property:
When your research produces positive outcomes, OU has dedicated offices to help you protect and commercialize intellectual property.
1. Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) – IP & Licensing: OTC helps move university research into the marketplace by managing the disclosure and protection of intellectual property.
2. Entrepreneurial Law Center – Legal & Startup Structure: The center provides legal guidance to help researchers navigate the complexities of starting a new venture.
Prototyping, Customer Discovery & Startup Support:
As you move toward a patent or prototype and consider forming a company, the Innovation Hub ecosystem provides hands-on support.
Fabrication Lab / Innovation Hub (Fab Lab)
Provides access to fabrication tools—such as 3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking and metalworking equipment, and electronics workspaces—along with technical guidance to turn concepts into physical prototypes.
Startup OU @ I-Hub
Startup OU supports OU-affiliated founders through programs like the Idea Accelerator (a four-week sprint focused on validating ideas, with the possibility of seed funding) and the Founder in Residence program, which offers deeper training in sales, marketing, fundraising, operations, and legal topics. Founders gain access to mentors, peer networks, and the broader OU entrepreneurial community.
Innovation Hub Entrepreneurship & Coaching Programs
The Tom Love Innovation Hub offers workshops, incubator programming, commercialization boot camps, and coaching that help researchers and students explore commercialization, refine their ideas, and develop entrepreneurial skills.
OK Catalyst @ I-Hub (SBIR/STTR Support)
OK Catalyst is OU’s statewide resource for SBIR and STTR support. The team helps researchers and small businesses identify federal opportunities, develop competitive proposals, and plan for commercialization, including:
Not sure where to start?
If you have a promising idea or prototype but are unsure which program is right for you, email otc@ou.edu with a short description of your project, and a team member can help connect you to the right OU resource.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Visit our next page to learn how to scale your operations and secure critical funding through external opportunities.
