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The Ardmore Development Authority and Amethyst Research, Inc. have been working together for over a year to recruit sensor-related companies to the Ardmore area.
The purpose of this effort is two-fold. The first is to attract companies that will benefit Amethyst’s research and production efforts. The second is to attract technology-oriented companies to Southern Oklahoma with high-paying jobs.
“One of the most effective methods in recruiting new business to an area is to have a company help recruit their research partners or companies in their supply chain,” said ADA Vice-President Brien Thorstenberg. “It becomes profitable for the companies to be located near their partners.”
Amethyst has been in the Ardmore area since 2005. The company develops advanced process technologies that significantly improve the performance of infrared detectors and sensors at substantially reduced production costs.
The primary use of this technology in is the production of “night vision.” This technology has significant applications to the defense industry. The company currently has contracts with the National Science Foundation, Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research and the Missile Defense Agency for over $3.5 million.
Amethyst was the catalyst behind the ADA developing the Colvert Technology Park that is currently under construction. The technology park will house a business incubator building that will be equipped with a clean room. Amethyst plans to use a portion of the space for a joint project with Oklahoma State University funded by the State of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Generation Excellence Program while maintaining their current facility on the east side of Lone Grove. The two organizations worked together to get a $350,000 piece of equipment (the Riber Epineat Moelcular Beam Epitaxy with ancillary equipment) donated to the ADA.
The equipment will be housed at the business incubator and can be used by Amethyst as well as other sensor-related companies. By having a business incubator where small amounts of space can be leased, a clean room and equipment, start-up companies in this industry can locate to Ardmore at less cost than in competing cities.
The ADA and Amethyst are also working together to form a statewide Sensor Alliance involving at least six communities and 13 companies or organizations. The Sensor Alliance will unite sensor and sensor-related activities throughout the state under a formal organization. The organization will be able to fill certain roles that no single government organization or corporation can provide. These roles include the following: guiding research and education, simplify intellectual property issues, assist commercialization of products, recruit entrepreneurs, and attract investors necessary for the companies to grow and succeed. By Ardmore taking the lead in establishing this organization, it increases the likelihood that Ardmore could become the center of sensor-related production in the state and region.
“The ADA has been a great partner in our efforts to attract companies that we have professional relationships with,” Amethyst Chief Technology Officer Dr. Terry Golding said. “We believe our public-private partnership will help our company be more successful and help the Ardmore community bring more technology related companies to the community.”
The Ardmore Development Authority and Amethyst Research, Inc. have been working together for over a year to recruit sensor-related companies to the Ardmore area.
The purpose of this effort is two-fold. The first is to attract companies that will benefit Amethyst’s research and production efforts. The second is to attract technology-oriented companies to Southern Oklahoma with high-paying jobs.
“One of the most effective methods in recruiting new business to an area is to have a company help recruit their research partners or companies in their supply chain,” said ADA Vice-President Brien Thorstenberg. “It becomes profitable for the companies to be located near their partners.”
Amethyst has been in the Ardmore area since 2005. The company develops advanced process technologies that significantly improve the performance of infrared detectors and sensors at substantially reduced production costs.
The primary use of this technology in is the production of “night vision.” This technology has significant applications to the defense industry. The company currently has contracts with the National Science Foundation, Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research and the Missile Defense Agency for over $3.5 million.
Amethyst was the catalyst behind the ADA developing the Colvert Technology Park that is currently under construction. The technology park will house a business incubator building that will be equipped with a clean room. Amethyst plans to use a portion of the space for a joint project with Oklahoma State University funded by the State of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Generation Excellence Program while maintaining their current facility on the east side of Lone Grove. The two organizations worked together to get a $350,000 piece of equipment (the Riber Epineat Moelcular Beam Epitaxy with ancillary equipment) donated to the ADA.
The equipment will be housed at the business incubator and can be used by Amethyst as well as other sensor-related companies. By having a business incubator where small amounts of space can be leased, a clean room and equipment, start-up companies in this industry can locate to Ardmore at less cost than in competing cities.
The ADA and Amethyst are also working together to form a statewide Sensor Alliance involving at least six communities and 13 companies or organizations. The Sensor Alliance will unite sensor and sensor-related activities throughout the state under a formal organization. The organization will be able to fill certain roles that no single government organization or corporation can provide. These roles include the following: guiding research and education, simplify intellectual property issues, assist commercialization of products, recruit entrepreneurs, and attract investors necessary for the companies to grow and succeed. By Ardmore taking the lead in establishing this organization, it increases the likelihood that Ardmore could become the center of sensor-related production in the state and region.
“The ADA has been a great partner in our efforts to attract companies that we have professional relationships with,” Amethyst Chief Technology Officer Dr. Terry Golding said. “We believe our public-private partnership will help our company be more successful and help the Ardmore community bring more technology related companies to the community.”
