Oklahoma § 74-5060.44 - Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and

§ 74-5060.44. Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and

Technology Intern Partnership for STEM Workforce Pipeline Program.

A. As used in this section:

1. “Applicant organization” means an Oklahoma-based entity that

is a nonprofit research foundation or private enterprise of special

importance to the Oklahoma economy; and

2. “Eligible student” means an individual currently enrolled in

a technology center school under the governance of the State Board

of Career and Technology Education or an individual currently

enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an institution

of higher education who is majoring in a science, technology,

engineering, and mathematics (STEM) based discipline including, but

not limited to, natural sciences, computer science, materials

science, engineering, biomedical, biotechnical, data analytics,

finance, mathematics, or a support area related to building

successful Oklahoma high-tech companies.

B. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Center for the

Advancement of Science and Technology Intern Partnership for STEM

Workforce Pipeline Program to be administered by the Oklahoma Center

for the Advancement of Science and Technology under the governance

of the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development

Board.

C. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and

Technology may award competitive internship funds, through

professional service contracts, to applicant organizations to hire

qualified student interns to participate in innovative industry

projects.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

D. To qualify for program internship funds, the applicant

organization must provide:

1. Documentation verifying that not less than fifty percent

(50%) of the total direct cost of the proposed project will be

provided by sources other than the Oklahoma Center for the

Advancement of Science and Technology and other state-appropriated

money. Such sources may be in the form of salary, cash, nonstate

grant funds, and other sources of funding as defined by the Oklahoma

Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology;

2. A description of the potential commercial application of and

the industrial sectors that will likely benefit from the project and

the potential to enhance employment opportunities in Oklahoma;

3. An itemized research budget, timeline, and research

methodology; and

4. Any other information that may be required by the Board.

E. The Board shall award professional service contracts after

it determines the applicant organization:

1. Provides a beneficial and meaningful intern experience which

includes exposure to real-world application of technology and

innovation activities;

2. Involves projects leading to innovation, new knowledge, or

technology that will benefit the applicant organization;

3. Has a reasonable probability to enhance employment

opportunities within Oklahoma;

4. Is technically sound, will produce a measurable result, and

will provide a positive impact to the applicant organization; and

5. Does not involve market surveys or research activities that

create fundamental or basic information which lack the potential for

reasonably short-term commercialization.

F. Based upon the information submitted by the applicant

organization, external peer review, and such additional

investigation as the staff of the Center shall make, the Board may

approve such professional service contracts after the Board finds

that:

1. The proposed project is research that leads to innovation,

new knowledge, or technology and is not training or technical

assistance for business firms;

2. The project has a reasonable probability to enhance

employment opportunities within the state; and

3. The project is technically sound and will produce a

measurable result.

G. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and

Technology shall promulgate rules necessary to implement and

administer the program authorized in this section.

Added by Laws 2022, c. 272, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022. Amended by Laws

2025, c. 33, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government