Oregon State University has been honored with the Innovation & Economic Prosperity University designation by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), highlighting its deep involvement in advancing regional economic growth. This national recognition is awarded to public research institutions that actively partner with government and industry to stimulate development through initiatives in innovation, workforce training, technology commercialization, and community collaboration.
The APLU’s Commission on Economic and Community Engagement, a leading authority in this domain, administers the rigorous evaluation process. Oregon State now joins a network of more than 90 universities that have earned this distinction.
Rebecca Robinson, associate vice president for economic development and industry relations, emphasized that the title not only acknowledges past achievements but also reinforces the institution’s forward-looking mission.
“It validates OSU’s extensive partnerships with businesses, public agencies, and communities across Oregon, and underscores our role as a dependable force in fostering innovation, skilled labor pipelines, and regional prosperity,” Robinson stated.
The university achieved this status following a comprehensive third-party assessment, which analyzed its self-reported data on economic outreach and gathered feedback from over 500 stakeholders both within and outside the institution.
“Our statewide impact, both in scope and effectiveness, has positioned us for this recognition,” Robinson added. “More significantly, we’ve adopted an ambitious decade-long strategy for expansion and enhancement. The IEP framework supports our overarching vision, Prosperity Widely Shared, and provides a structured pathway to achieve it through unified, organization-wide efforts. It strengthens our emphasis on location-specific innovation, research aligned with industry needs, and collaborative alliances that turn academic insight into tangible benefits for Oregon’s residents and local economies.”
An independent evaluator noted that OSU maintains influence at both state and national levels through active roles in professional organizations, advisory boards, and inter-institutional networks—evidence of its ongoing dedication to improving standards in economic outreach.
Robinson also highlighted the value of the application process itself, which helped refine OSU’s understanding of its engagement models and strategic priorities.
“The IEP journey has enabled us to define our institutional identity more clearly, enhance our long-term planning, and raise our aspirations to intentionally shape the future of Oregon’s economy.”
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Oregon State named an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University | OSU Today
The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has designated Oregon State University as an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University, in recognition of its strong commitment to economic engagement. The national designation recognizes public research universities that collaborate with public and private sector partners in their states and regions to support economic development through various activities, including innovation and entrepreneurship, technology transfer, talent and workforce development and community development. n nAPLU’s Commission on Economic and Community Engagement, a national leader in this field, oversees the process. OSU is one of over 90 higher education institutions designated as an IEP university. n nRebecca Robinson, associate vice president for economic development and industry relations, says the designation is both a recognition of OSU’s strengths and a commitment to continuing the work of economic engagement. n n“It affirms the strength of OSU’s engagement with industry, government and communities across the state, and it reflects the university’s role as a trusted, long-term partner in driving innovation, talent development and economic development,” she said. n nOSU earned this designation after an independent review process of its submission, which included a self-assessment of its economic engagement initiatives and insights from more than 500 internal and external stakeholders. n n“We’ve earned this designation through the breadth and depth of our statewide impact, and more importantly, we’ve committed to a bold, 10-year plan for growth and improvement.,” Robinson said. “The IEP designation directly advances the goals of our strategic plan, Prosperity Widely Shared, and creates a clear roadmap for realizing that goal through coordinated, enterprise-level action. It sharpens our focus on place-based innovation, sector-aligned research, and shared-value partnerships that translate knowledge into measurable outcomes for Oregon’s people and communities.” n nAn external reviewer wrote, “OSU’s continued influence at both the local and national levels — through its affiliations, committee memberships and active participation in professional networks — demonstrates a sustained commitment to advancing best practices in economic engagement.” n nRobinson said going through the application process to achieve this recognition was useful in identifying and honing the many ways OSU engages with industry and beyond. n n“The IEP process has helped OSU clarify its identity, strengthen its strategy, and elevate its ambition to lead with intention in shaping Oregon’s future.”