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THETAⓘTulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy builds on our region’s strengths, creating better jobs and opportunities for Oklahomans.
The Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy, or as we like to call it, THETA, is making secure autonomy work for Tulsa. And we want you to be a part of it.
The Greater Tulsa Region has been designated as a Tech Hub by the EDAⓘU.S. Economic Development Administration, meaning our region just got a huge ego boost and the investment to build technologies of the future. This program will grow our economy, create good jobs at all skill levels, and place Tulsa as an innovative leader while building on our roots in air and space.
You’ve probably seen trustworthy autonomy a few times. Let’s break that down.
Autonomous systems are advanced programs and machines that can do things on their own once created. Think drones, self-driving cars, robotics, etc.
But as we start relying on these systems more and more, there’s a huge need to make sure they’re trustworthy and safe for everyone.
We’re so glad you asked. Our region has all the tools, talent, and experience it needs to push these technologies further, transforming our region into a hub for the next generation of technologies.
With this tech, we‘ll move goods faster, manage crops easier, make surgeries safer, respond to emergencies better, and defend our nation greater, all while growing jobs and the economy right here in Oklahoma.
THETA is centered on expanding the industries our region already excels in. Investing our resources into new technologies doesn’t mean taking away what our community has built—just the opposite. We have the opportunity to upskill Oklahomans, revitalizing our workforce across several high-demand sectors.
$1.6 Billion
From THETA industries to our local economy
56,000
New future-proof jobs locally within emerging tech industries
$7,000
Above the regional average wages
20,000
Women added to the local workforce
11,000
Black, Latino, and Native American people added to the local workforce
If you’re a recent grad or just seeking new opportunities, THETA plans to offer education-to-employment opportunities that maximize your potential.
Tulsa is already a hub for entrepreneurship, but we plan to help accelerate the number of startups and new businesses in Tulsa related to autonomous system industries.
THETA looks to expand local industries like manufacturing, aerospace, and cybersecurity using trustworthy autonomous systems to create future-proof revenue and secure our jobs.
Our regional universities are doing some big and exciting things. We plan to leverage their local expertise to drive advances in autonomous system development and commercialization.
We already know our region is special. The EDA’s endorsement as a Tech Hub only affirms it. By investing in this initiative driven by emerging technologies, we’ll see a direct impact across the entire state.
NORTHERN OKLAHOMA
THETA AssetOSU’s OAIRE, top autonomous systems research program in the country.
Use CaseAerial drones can monitor herds on Osage County ranches, and very soon will also be able to use AI and new computer-vision technology to identify health or other issues with individual animals.
SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA
THETA AssetDrone Port on the Daisy Ranch in the Choctaw Nation
Use CaseOne day, autonomous logistics will ply the corridor between OKC and Dallas. Aerial Drones will carry goods, and eventually people, and autonomous trucks will handle the “middle mile” between depots on both sides of the border.
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
THETA AssetSkyway 36 Range, a Beyond Visual Line of Sight Testing Corridor
Use Cases1. Large rural health systems could use autonomous drones to deliver pharmaceuticals to community elders or others with limited mobility.
2. Air and ground-based autonomous systems can monitor miles of Pipeline infrastructure for leaks and emissions.
WESTERN OKLAHOMA
Wind Farms can be remote and difficult to access. Autonomous systems can monitor blades and other infrastructure to ensure timely repairs and predict maintenance needs.
THETA was brought to life through collaborative efforts led by a group of local leaders in government, industry, higher education, workforce, and economic development dedicated to making our region a global tech leader.
