In his 2003 State of the State address, Gov. Brad Henry challenged higher education to harness the energies of its faculty and students to become a force for economic development in the state.

In response, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in coordination with the Department of Commerce developed Oklahoma's EDGE, a plan designed to bring more wealth to Oklahoma and to increase the competitiveness of Oklahoma business and industry, as well as provide greater employment opportunities and assist in economic development efforts within the state.

Throughout the planning process, leaders from the public and private sectors, will build an economic prosperity model for the state of Oklahoma, focusing on recommendations in the areas of research and innovation; specialized education; business climate and policies; and leadership and collaboration.