Another quarter of momentum for Tulsa's innovation ecosystem: national awards, a new cohort of startups, and a growing global footprint. Here's what TIL and our partners have been building.

Tulsa's Innovation Coalitions Earn National Recognition

The International Economic Development Council awarded the Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Cluster a Silver Excellence Award for multi-year collaborative achievement, plus a Bronze Award for a public-private partnership helping local manufacturers retool for drones and autonomous systems — proof points for Tulsa's coalition-first approach to economic development.

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Rose Rock Bridge Names its 2026 Awardees

Rose Rock Bridge has awarded four early-stage energy technology companies a shared $400,000 in non-dilutive funding to solve critical operational challenges facing the global energy market. Selected from a competitive pool of 80+ global applicants, each company receives $100,000 to establish a presence in Tulsa, partner directly with major energy operators and support the creation of local jobs in the coming year.

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Skyway Range Hosts International Drone Competition

The 2026 RoboNation SUAS (Student Unmanned Aerial Systems) Competition brought 64 student teams from 10 countries with their autonomous aircraft to Skyway Range. More than 450 students, faculty, and industry leaders spent three days testing their systems across Skyway Range's 1,200-square-mile corridor, tackling real-world autonomous flight, navigation, and sensing challenges. It's the kind of hands-on proving ground that connects what students build in the classroom to the industries they may one day lead.  

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Tulsa Fire Department to Use Manna Air Delivery for Medical Emergencies

Manna Air Delivery has struck a pilot program partnership with Tulsa Fire Department to help render emergency aid. In addition to the department's regular drones used in search & rescue missions, Manna can deliver life-saving help by sending light objects like defibrillators and trauma kits before fire engine crews can arrive.

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TIL Hosts Building Better Regions Community of Practice

Leaders from Building Better Regions coalitions across the country came to Tulsa for two days of shared learning. Attendees toured Tulsa Ports, Skyway Range, and the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education's LaunchPad facility at the Helmerich Research Center on day one before turning to workforce, partnerships, and long-term sustainability on day two.  

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Good News, Tulsa!

Here are some recent headlines we're excited about.

• Stop chasing the next big industry. Build on the one you already have.
• Tulsa Hopes to Become 'The Drone Capital of the World' ‍
• AI tech company expands in Tulsa, will employ more than 300 at two facilities
• Tulsa program connects college students with paid tech internships‍
• Four Energy Tech Startups Selected for $400,000 Rose Rock Bridge Funding in Tulsa ‍
• Tulsa International Airport lands $65 million aerospace manufacturing expansion ‍
• LinkedIn Cities on the Rise 2026: The 25 fastest-growing U.S. metros for jobs and new talent ‍
• Greenheck Group planning to acquire former distribution center near Owasso  ‍
• uAvionix FlightLine Data Feeds Airwise Nexus at Skyway Range in Tulsa