Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Tulsa Launches Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/24/23

The University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., recently announced the launch of the Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute, which will focus on research to identify, test, and develop new cyber-workforce and cybersecurity solutions, according to a news release. Its formation is a response to the rise in cybercrime across state and national economies and the need for a more robust cybersecurity workforce.

“The global cost of cybercrime is set to grow from $3 trillion in 2015 to $10.5 trillion by 2025. Last year, more than 700,000 jobs in this field went unfilled,” said Rose Gamble, TU Vice President for Research and Economic Development. “The Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute will capitalize on decades of academic excellence at TU and expand research opportunities to include the expertise needed to put the findings into market.”

According to the news release, the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reports that one-third of U.S. home computers have been infected with some form of malicious software, 47% of adults have had cyber criminals gain access to their personal information, and 44% of millennials have been victims of cybercrime. Likewise, Cybersecurity Ventures reports that the number of job vacancies in the cybersecurity industry have grown from 1 million in 2013 to 3.5 million in 2023.

The university is establishing the institute through a $24-million investment that will go toward attracting talent, implementing workforce development pipelines, constructing and renovating facilities around campus, launching research and commercialization programs, and building up state infrastructure. $12 million of that seed funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, and the other half comes through a match from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. The institute also announced that it is planning on more than $50 million in funding over the next five years from various public and private sources.

“Continued research and development in the cybersecurity sector is critical for reinforcing vulnerabilities in businesses and in our national defense,” said U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-OK. “TU has already demonstrated their commitment to produce elite talent to fill incredibly important jobs in Tulsa and across the country for this growing industry. This institute will attract and retain even more cybersecurity experts to Tulsa, making our community a world-class center for cybersecurity solutions.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

Digital Edition