Innovation News

Tulsa Innovation Labs (TIL) has received two 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), recognizing two projects built with partners across the region.

The awards celebrate organizations leading transformational work in their communities. Each year, IEDC recognizes economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives and programs that demonstrate excellence in the field and advance the practice internationally.

A Silver Award for regional collaboration

The Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Cluster won a Silver Award in the Multi-Year Collaborative Economic Development category for communities of 500,000 or more. TRAM launched in 2022 with a $38 million federal award through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and it has anchored much of the region's advanced mobility work since.

The project brought together the Indian Nations Council of Governments, Madison Strategies Group, Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, Oklahoma State University, Osage LLC, Tulsa Community College, Tulsa Ports, and Tulsa Tech around a shared goal: making Tulsa the place to design, test, build and scale the next generation of advanced mobility technology.

A Bronze Award for public-private partnership

The Tulsa Advanced Research and Manufacturing Acceleration Coalition won a Bronze Award in the Public-Private Partnership category, also for communities of 500,000 or more. Funded through Tulsa's Tech Hub designation, this project helps local manufacturers expand into drones and other autonomous systems.

The work connects Tulsa-area shops with new customers, gives them the equipment and technical guidance to retool their production lines, and helps them find financing to make the shift. The goal is a homegrown supply chain and manufacturing jobs that stay in Tulsa. Partners include Cherokee Nation Businesses, OK Autonomous, Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance, Oklahoma State University, and TEDC Creative Capital.

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TIL will be honored for both awards at the IEDC 2026 Annual Conference in New Orleans (Oct. 25-28), part of IEDC's 100th anniversary.

“These awards recognize the hard work of all the partners who have shown up consistently to build something none of us could have built alone,” said Jennifer Hankins, Managing Director of Tulsa Innovation Labs. “Together, we’re turning Tulsa’s strengths in aerospace, energy and manufacturing into new jobs and new companies here at home. We’re grateful for the recognition, and we look forward to the work ahead of us.”

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