OARS Tip #5: Technology Areas

Let's talk technology areas as they apply to OARS and Intern Partnerships.

In alignment with the 2021-2026 State Science and Innovation Strategic Plan, OARS and Intern Partnerships projects are expected to fit into the three key industry sectors of importance.

What are they?

✈ Aerospace, autonomous systems and defense
🧬 Biotechnology and life sciences
🔌 Energy diversification

This doesn't mean you have to be, for example, an aerospace company in order to be eligible for our programs. It simply means that the innovation you're developing has to have an end-user application in one of the industry sectors of importance, thereby adding to those pillars' innovation capacities.

These areas are quite broad - for example, autonomous systems, while grouped with aero and defense, includes not only UAS/UAV, but also autonomous manufacturing innovation and robotics/Industry 4.0.

Likewise, biotechnology and life sciences includes health tech, medical devices, traditional pharmacological innovations, and health innovations. It also covers projects related to human, plant, or animal health.

Energy diversification includes renewables such as solar, wind, and hydrogen as you might expect. It also includes all oil and gas innovations and related efforts around energy sustainability/resiliency and efficiency.

👉🏻 When in doubt, reach out to someone on the OCAST team to discuss your project and whether it is eligible!