Tech leaders call for Oklahoma to invest in research and retain talent

OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Oklahoma needs stronger research investment, clearer paths from university discoveries to market, and more opportunities to keep technical talent in the state, business and university leaders said during the release of a new technology report.

“We’re not talking about building a technology economy from scratch. It is here, and it’s already contributing to the economy,” said Travis Gould, managing director of Accenture in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Technology Alliance commissioned OK Competes: Tech Edition as part of the State Chamber’s broader competitiveness initiative. Economic Leadership LLC prepared the assessment using 2025 industry and occupation data, interviews with 18 technology sector leaders, and comparisons with other states.

The report found that Oklahoma’s technology industry employed 88,440 people in 2025. Average annual earnings, including benefits, reached $134,200, compared with about $72,300 across all industries statewide.

But technology industry employment grew just 2.3% between 2020 and 2025, compared with 10.1% nationally, placing Oklahoma 47th among states.

Brittnee Preston, director of the Oklahoma Technology Alliance, said the findings carry implications for employers well beyond traditional technology companies.

“Most of our tech jobs are found in businesses that are not inherently tech,” Preston said.

The report distinguishes between jobs at technology companies and technology occupations across the economy. Oklahoma employed 119,290 people in technology occupations in 2025, with roughly 78% working outside the technology industry.

“Oklahoma’s opportunity is not simply to just grow the technology sector, but it’s to build a coordinated innovative strategy that strengthens the entire economy,” Preston said.

That strategy includes giving more graduates a reason to build their careers in Oklahoma.

An analysis of online profiles belonging to graduates of Oklahoma postsecondary STEM programs found that 47.2% listed Oklahoma as their current location, while 17% listed Texas. The analysis examined profiles updated since 2020; the figures describe the graduates represented in those profiles.

“How do we build the talent, create opportunities, and retain it?” Gould asked.

He said employers must work with education leaders and communities to develop the workforce needed as artificial intelligence changes how companies operate.

“No individual company can do this alone. It has to be a coordinated effort as we compete for that talent, not just attracting talent, but building it within the state itself,” Gould said.

The report identified about 1,560 employers competing for AI-skilled workers in Oklahoma over the past two years. In August 2026, AI-related job postings carried an average advertised salary of $127,400.

Gould said businesses also need to communicate which skills they expect to need three to five years from now so education programs and public investments can respond. Technical training should include an understanding of the industries where workers will apply it, he said.

“There’ll be a lot of focus on the technology skills, the AI skills, but don’t minimize the industry skills,” Gould said.

At the University of Oklahoma, Matthew Hulver, vice president for research and partnerships, said universities also bear responsibility for making research easier to turn into commercial products and companies.

“The patent is not a company,” Hulver said.

He said inventions can stall after the patent stage when researchers lack the business support needed to bring their ideas to market. Scientists should not be expected to become business executives on their own, he said.

The report ranked Oklahoma 35th in research and development funding relative to the size of its economy, 41st in patents per science and engineering worker, and 44th in federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer funding.

Hulver acknowledged the frustrations businesses encounter when trying to work with universities, including complicated agreements and unclear points of entry.

“Frankly, most universities don’t get this right,” Hulver said.

He described efforts at OU to simplify agreements, make terms publicly available, and coordinate support for researchers and entrepreneurs. Those changes are intended to make it easier for businesses to work with the university and for research discoveries to reach the marketplace.

“It’s a major priority for us,” Hulver said.

Preston said the State Chamber will look at research and development investments and matching grants tied to the federal Small Business Innovation Research program as priorities for lawmakers to consider next year.

“We need to invest in our innovation by expanding research partnerships, commercialization efforts, and access to investment capital,” Preston said. “We need to retain and grow talent by aligning educational workforce programs with the needs of Oklahoma’s entire technology enabled economy.”

She also pointed to aerospace and defense, drone technology, health technology, and agricultural technology as areas where Oklahoma should identify opportunities and prepare workers. Energy technology remains a major strength, although employment in that segment declined 6.8% from 2020 to 2025.

Preston said the alliance can help connect companies and opportunities across regions that too often operate separately. Hulver said universities need to better demonstrate how research produces businesses and jobs when making the case for investment.

For Gould, the immediate task is bringing employers, educators, and policymakers together around the opportunities already taking shape.

“It’s gonna take a collaborative effort across businesses, education, government, and communities so that we can develop the talent, focus the investment in order for Oklahoma to compete,” Gould said.

Read the full report: OK Competes: Tech Edition