Business and industry are critical partners for the Oregon University System in an effort to meet the economic development and workforce needs of the state. In addition to the state or system-wide partnerships and collaborations listed below, each OUS campus or center has strong industry relationships and partnerships serving multiple functions—encompassing efforts from scholarships to research to commercialization.

Engineering and Technology Industry Council (ETIC) Established in 1997, the mission of ETIC is to make post-secondary engineering and technology education a strategic resource that fuels the Oregon economy and creates opportunity for all Oregonians. It establishes success criteria and measurements for investments in these areas, makes specific investment recommendations, and monitors the results of these investments. ETIC is staffed by the Industry Affairs Department of OUS.  

• Oregon Pre-Engineering and Applied Sciences Initiative (OPAS)  OPAS is a collaboration of industry, non-profit, and public educators and leaders working to help achieve ETIC's goal of increasing the number and diversity of Oregon students pursuing engineering and similar fields at colleges and universities. OPAS develops and implements strategies that expand formal and informal educational opportunities in pre-engineering, computer science, and other applied sciences for students in middle and high school.

• Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Programs (ORTOP) Administered by OUS, ORTOP is a volunteer-led team robotics program that implements the Jr. FIRST LEGO League, FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge programs for students in kindergarten through high school. All three programs are based on national and international programs offered by FIRST.  Students experience the challenges and rewards of technical teamwork and gain insights into possible careers in engineering, computer science, and other technical areas.  Students build and program robots, prepare research presentations, and compete in local and state tournaments.

• GET REAL: Explore Computer Science Campaign The GET REAL website is part of a collaborative outreach effort of Oregon University System (OUS), Oregon high school teachers, and many of Oregon’s top industries, to provide college and career information about the fields of engineering and computer science to high school juniors and seniors.   

University Venture Development Fund The University Venture Development Fund provides a tax incentive for donors who choose to support commercialization of promising university discoveries and campus-based entrepreneurial education by contributing to university venture development funds at OUS campuses and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).

The Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC) was established by the Oregon Legislature in 2005 and was charged with developing a plan for investing in Oregon innovation and improving the state’s economic competitiveness. Established as a public-private partnership, the council is made up of nearly 50 senior executives, university leaders, venture capitalists, and legislators. The OUS Chancellor is a member of the Council, and OUS, Business Oregon and Oregon InC work closely together to combine the innovative ideas of Oregon's research universities and the know-how of entrepreneurs and business people to turn these ideas into the next generation of Oregon businesses.

Oregon Metals Initiative, Inc. (OMI) OMI is a consortium of metals industry companies and research institutions that pursues research to improve the long-term competitiveness of the metals industry and the research infrastructure in Oregon.  The Oregon University System matches each corporate research dollar on a 1:1 basis for approved projects. Major achievements include new material discoveries, technological advances, multiple patents, and several successful commercial applications.

Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP) and Civil Engineering Cooperative Program (CECOP): internship programs for PSU, OSU, and OIT students in engineering-related studies, developed and run by industry representatives.

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