SoCal OASIS™ Initiatives
SoCal OASIS™ will facilitate research and demonstration, incubation and tech transfer, training and social outreach and inclusion through the following core initiatives led by various partners.
SoCal OASIS™ Park
Located adjacent to the UC Riverside campus, the park will encompass research laboratories, incubator/accelerator facilities, professional education training, offices for industry and community partners, and community spaces. It will enable diverse stakeholders to collaborate in the commercialization of promising innovations in clean energy, sustainable transportation, agriculture, community health and health disparities, and around mindful stewardship of natural resources.
Recently, we kicked off the progressive design build phase of the SoCal OASIS™ Park with HENSEL PHELPS and ZGF Architects leading the construction and design. Demolition of the existing building on the site is set to begin this May or June, followed by the immediate construction of the new building. This project will generate hundreds of jobs during the 2-year construction period, with completion expected in mid- to late-2026. More information and timely updates can be found on the Planning, Design, and Construction site.
FarmSense, a company founded by UC Riverside computer science professor Eamonn Keogh and UCR alumnus Shailendra Singh, won second place at the Entrepreneurship World Cup U.S. National Finals.
Entrepreneurial Support
UCR’s EPIC Small Business Development Center supports entrepreneurs and startups with technology commercialization assistance from industry experts to facilitate deployment of products and services in the areas of emphasis for SoCal OASIS™. Entrepreneurial support, together with an extensive network of assets for pilot scale demonstration projects, will accelerate the transfer of innovative products and services to the private sector and the community, fueling the region’s transition to a more sustainable economy.
Educational Programs
Focused on exposure and skills transfer, SoCal OASIS™ partners representing K-12 through K-16 institutions from the region are building a pipeline of educational opportunities specifically targeted for disadvantaged populations in technology-based business creation. Through a series of online and hands-on experiential workshops and laboratory sessions delivered by UCR faculty, community experts, and entrepreneurs from the UCR EPIC SBDC, participants will receive instruction training and specialized mentorship on the basic principles of technology commercialization, startup creation, and access to capital.
Zero-to-Entrepreneur's specialized certificate in entrepreneurial modern agriculture program explores sustainable options to address food insecurity, mitigate effects of climate change, and spur growth of an innovation ecosystem in Inland Southern California.