| About ODOT Commercial Projects |
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Oregon Department of Transportation Commercial Products
Research & Development Program
Legislation enacted in 2003 called for ODOT to establish a public-private partnership research and development program. This legislation, which became part of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS 184.631 ), specified that the department may enter into joint research and development agreements for the purpose of developing products for market, which may reduce the cost of maintenance and preservation or extend the useful life of the state’s highways, or which may improve highway safety.
The public-private “partnership” would take the form of a contractual agreement, and may be with individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, or State universities. These agreements would provide funding for product research and development, while also allowing the department to receive royalties or other financial benefits from the sale or use of commercially successful products. However, ODOT’s primary interest in product development is not commercial profit, but in encouraging and promoting the availability of innovations that benefit the public by improving Oregon’s highway system.
Administrative rules for the program has been adopted and an advisory committee has been appointed. The program will begin considering research ideas in the spring of 2005 through a Request for Information. Those ideas that are selected for further development will then be subject to a formal Request for Proposal process.
For more information contact June Ross.
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