A donation of advanced networking technology from Cisco, a U.S. technology company, will help UC Riverside researchers, students, and entrepreneurs tackle some of Southern California's most pressing environmental challenges while gaining hands-on experience with emerging technologies.

Voltu Motor Celebrates Grand Opening of New Riverside Facility Voltu Motor, an electric vehicle company focused on electrifying heavy-duty commercial vehicles, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Riverside facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by regional partners and community leaders. Originally founded in Argentina, Voltu selected Riverside as the location for its U.S. operations and has worked closely with regional stakeholders to establish and grow its presence in Inland Southern California. Throughout its growth, the company has received support from UCR

Two Emerging Startups Win RivCo Fast Pitch Riverside Regional and Advance to County Finals RIVERSIDE, Calif. (April 16, 2026) - Two emerging startups advanced to the next stage of competition Thursday evening as TollRAir and Super Foam took top honors at the RivCo Fast Pitch - Riverside Regional, held at Riverside ExCITE as part of Riverside County Innovation Month. Now in its ninth year, Riverside County Innovation Month is the county’s annual celebration of entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, and the organizations helping bold ideas grow into scalable businesses. Held each April, the

UC Riverside Hosts Third Annual SoCal OASIS® Pitch Challenge, Awarding $102,500 in Non-Dilutive Funding to Sustainability-Driven Startups RIVERSIDE, CA (December 11th, 2025) – The University of California, Riverside’s Office of Technology Partnerships (OTP) hosted the third annual SoCal OASIS® Pitch Challenge on December 10, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, and community partners to spotlight innovation emerging from Inland Southern California. From a competitive pool of 46 applicant companies, six finalists were selected to compete for $100,000 in cash awards

2025 RCCD Alumnus of the Year: Joshua Morales, Founder of StarNav Pioneering GPS-Independent Navigation Technology from the Heart of Riverside The Office of Technology Partnerships proudly recognizes Dr. Joshua Morales, founder and CEO of StarNav, as the 2025 EPIC Alumnus of the Year for Riverside Community College District. A resident company at the ExCITE Incubator, an incubation space supported in partnership with the City of Riverside, County of Riverside, and University of California, Riverside, Joshua exemplifies the impact of university-supported entrepreneurship. Through EPIC’s

Glīd Wins TechCrunch Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2025 From Riverside Pitch to Global Stage: A Success Story for the Books Glīd, a company within UC Riverside's Office of Technology Partnerships EPIC portfolio, achieved a major milestone this year by winning the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield at Disrupt 2025. Their advancement to this global stage began locally, when they applied to our regional pitch programs in Riverside earlier this spring. After securing a top placement at the Riverside County Startup World Cup Finals, Glīd advanced to the national Startup World Cup competition in San

Global Innovation Meets Local Action: UC Riverside Unites International Diplomats, CEOs, and Regional Leaders to Shape the Future of Economic Development in Inland SoCal Riverside, CA (July 23, 2025) – University of California, Riverside welcomed members of the Los Angeles Consular Corps (LACC) to campus on July 17 for a landmark discussion on international collaboration, foreign direct investment, and the strategic role that universities play in supporting global innovation. Hosted by UCR’s Office of Research and Economic Development, in partnership with its Office of Technology Partnerships

The Riverside County Office of Economic Development is excited to announce the Riverside County Innovation Month Pitch Finale, taking place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 5 to 8 PM at the Riverside Convention Center (3637 5th St, Riverside, CA 92501).

Glid wins first place in Riverside Regional Fast Pitch Competition and advances to countywide finale during Riverside County Innovation Month

UCR’s ‘pitch challenge’ supports promising startup companies The grant contest helps boost the Inland Empire economy Regional startup companies developing and marketing sustainable technologies that address urgent societal needs collectively received $150,000 in grants at a “pitch challenge” competition organized by UCR’s Office of Technology Partnerships. The annual SoCal OASIS™ Pitch Challenge was held earlier this month at the Riverside Convention Center, where five startup companies presented their ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience. Super Foam took first place with a $75,000

Regional group honors UCR economic development and innovation leader Rosibel Ochoa, UCR’s associate vice chancellor for technology partnerships, was honored as one of “the top minds in the hemisphere” by the Organization of American States, or OAS. Ochoa was one of seven scientists and researchers honored with the OAS Science, Technology, and Innovation of the Americas Award at a ceremony on Dec. 19. The award highlights the transformative power of science to drive socioeconomic progress and address critical challenges in the Americas. The organization lauded the honorees for their outstanding

UCR intellectual property leader appointed to USDA board Brian Suh, UCR’s senior executive director of technology partnerships, has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve on a board that safeguards the intellectual property of crop breeders. Suh’s term on the Department of Agriculture’s Plant Variety Protection Board, or PVPB, will run through December 2026. The PVPB advises the USDA on critical issues surrounding plant variety intellectual property, including rules and regulations for administering the Plant Variety Protection Act. This act protects breeders’ rights over

Building a Sustainable and Prosperous Future: UCR Leads the 2025 Inland SoCal OASIS™ Climate Action Conference RIVERSIDE, CA – [January 15, 2025] – The University of California, Riverside’s Office of Technology Partnerships (OTP) proudly hosted the second annual Inland SoCal OASIS™ Climate Action Conference, reaffirming its leadership in advancing climate resilience, sustainability-driven entrepreneurship, and economic growth in the Inland Southern California region. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event (full details here), the 2025 conference, held on January 15, 2025

From Demolition to Innovation: UCR Breaks Ground on SoCal OASIS™ Park, a Hub for Clean Tech Innovation and Sustainability Riverside, CA – [December 20, 2024] – The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Research and Economic Development, in collaboration with its Office of Technology Partnerships, is thrilled to announce the commencement of construction on the SoCal OASIS™ Park (“Park”), a state-of-the-art center dedicated to research in climate change, air quality, and mobility. As demolition begins on the existing UCR Extension Center Building to make way for this innovative facility, the

2024 SoCal OASIS™ Pitch Challenge Awards Startups $150,000 in Non-Dilutive Funding Riverside, CA – [December 4, 2024] – UC Riverside’s Office of Technology Partnerships and the SoCal OASIS™ Initiative (“Opportunities to Advance Sustainability, Social Inclusion, and Innovation”) hosted an inspiring evening of innovation and collaboration at the Riverside Convention Center on December 4, 2024. The 2024 SoCal OASIS™ Challenge Pitch Finals showcased innovative startups from Inland Southern California, drawing over 200 attendees, including industry leaders and entrepreneurs. The event featured a

The Social and Economic Impact of Music Changing Lives: Shawn Jones of Music Changing Lives Selected for California Partners Project Youth Advisory Committee! Riverside, CA – November 25, 2024 – The Office of Technology Partnerships at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) is proud to highlight the ongoing impact of Music Changing Lives (MCL), one of the successful clients of our entrepreneurial support programs. Founded by Josiah Bruny, Music Changing Lives provides vital music, arts, and tutoring programs to America’s public schools and community centers, helping at-promise youth

Highlights the Success of Tinker The Robot: A Game-Changer in STEM Education Riverside, CA – November 4, 2024 – The Office of Technology Partnerships (OTP) at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), is proud to announce the remarkable achievements of Tinker The Robot, a company creating innovative, educational products and workshops developed with the support of UCR’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Tinker The Robot is making waves by inspiring young learners (“Tinkerers”) to embrace STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) through interactive, fun build kits and

Zero-to-Entrepreneur Company From The Land Launches ‘Littlest Big Farm,’ Receives $250,000 Grant Award From Catalyst Fund in Partnership With Huerta Del Valle RIVERSIDE, CA – On October 28, 2024, From The Land, a trailblazing organization focused on sustainable agriculture, celebrated the launch of Littlest Big Farm with a special event that brought together stakeholders, partners, and industry professionals. This cutting-edge solution addresses the urgent need for food security and economic development in urban food deserts, offering a compact, indoor vertical micro-farm that empowers

Seedorina's Distinct Contributions to Nolux Earn Runner-Up Award in NASA Deep Space Food Challenge RIVERSIDE, CA – October 14, 2024 — The Office of Technology Partnerships at the University of California, Riverside, is thrilled to announce that Seedorina, a Riverside-based startup in the robotics AgTech space, has achieved great traction. Seedorina, founded by Uruguay-born entrepreneurs, partnered with UC Riverside's Principal Investigators Professor Robert Jinkerson and Dr. Martha Orozco in the innovative Nolux project, earning a prestigious runner-up award in NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge

UC Riverside Awarded Grant Funding to Launch InSoCal Accelerate Hub, Boosting Entrepreneurship in Inland Empire Riverside, CA – April 15th, 2024 - The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is taking decisive steps to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation in the Inland Empire with the launch of the InSoCal Accelerate CA: Inclusive Innovation Hub, made possible by grant funding awarded to UCR from the Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The InSoCal Accelerate Hub (InSoCal Hub) will connect and coordinate existing

UCR Leads the Way in Climate Action and Innovation with the First-Ever 2024 Inland SoCal OASIS™ Climate Action Conference The University of California, Riverside (UCR) continues to spearhead impactful initiatives in climate action and innovation through the first-ever 2024 Inland SoCal OASIS™ Climate Action Conference, held on January 30th, 2024. Hosted by UCR's Office of Technology Partnerships & UCR EPIC Innovation & Entrepreneurship Programs, this pioneering conference convened thought leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and community members to address regional climate adaptation