Innovation News

In September, Tulsa Innovation Labs hosted Collab2025, the first community-wide gathering to learn about Tulsa’s momentum as a global hub for innovation, and how organizations or individuals can play a role in the work underway. 

Across the two-day event, over 120 attendees representing 94 different organizations, including local and national industry partners, tribes, local government, and both K-12 and higher educational institutions, had the chance to delve deeper into Tulsa’s national Tech Hub designation. 

Attendees had the opportunity to see the progress the region has made to strengthen local industry by creating new capabilities across drone technology, autonomous systems, AI, cyber skills, and more. 

With discussions and presentations from partners including Accenture, Black Tech Street, and Rose Rock Bridge, as well as a visit to critical infrastructure sites like Skyway Range and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and more, attendees caught a glimpse into Tulsa’s multi-faceted approach to creating new opportunities in the region. 

• Black Tech Street's ASPIRE program is training the community in AI fluency, ensuring Tulsa is ready to use this technology to shape the outcomes we want to see. 
• Rose Rock Bridge is working with local energy corporations to identify innovative startups with emerging technology that helps enhance operations. 
• Skyway Range is a world-class drone testing facility where companies can test, validate, and launch UAS innovations. 
• Tulsa Ports, home to the most inland river port in the U.S. and a large industrial park, attracts industrial sites that bring advanced manufacturing jobs and produce critical components of emerging technologies, making our region a crucial part of domestic manufacturing supply chains. 

Each of these organizations plays a unique role in our ecosystem, and by collaborating across sectors, we’re able to build partnerships that make our region a strong global contender in the new economy.

Lastly, a conversation between Tulsa Innovation Labs’ Managing Director Jennifer Hankins and Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols highlighted how crucial it is for city leadership and innovation ecosystems to interact and reinforce one another to drive long-term prosperity. The fireside chat focused on cross-sector collaboration, bold infrastructure investments, and place-based economic development–key components in Tulsa’s path toward prosperity for all. 

Stay tuned for future Collab events that are open to the community. We hope you’ll join us to continue learning about Tulsa’s Tech Hub and how to be a part of it!