Success Stories

ORAU Coordinates External Reviews for Florida Centers of Excellence

When the Board of Governors for the State University System of Florida committed to positioning the state as a national leader in key emerging technology areas, they sought the proposal review expertise of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).

This concerted effort resulted from the 21st Century Technology, Research and Scholarship Enhancement Act, which was originally enacted in 2006 and later amended in 2007. It established the Florida Technology, Research, and Scholarship Board to develop and approve the criteria for evaluating proposals related to the creation of new—or the expansion of existing—Centers of Excellence.

Having developed the criteria for evaluating proposals, the board immediately partnered with ORAU for independent review and scientific assessment of research proposals submitted by more than 40 potential university-based Centers of Excellence.

The Florida Board of Governors required that potential candidates possess scientific validity and potential for commercialization and workforce success. In response to this qualification, ORAU’s scientific peer review team assembled two separate objective reviews where each proposal was evaluated by three scientists and three economists.

The process began with the search for potential peer reviewers with ORAU utilizing multiple network connections—including an internal database of subject matter experts. Each individual’s expertise was verified by accounting for education background, current professional position, published works, as well as participation in other committees or panels.

Reviewers who were selected underwent a rigorous conflict-of-interest evaluation. During this process, ORAU verified that each reviewer was located outside the State of Florida and was clear of any financial interest or personal conflict.

Implementing PeerNet, the proposals were electronically distributed to each reviewer who then in turn, used the Web-based peer review system to collect their comments and ratings regarding the feasibility of each proposal.

Results of the external review of 2008 Centers of Excellence Proposals were presented to the Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board during their April board meeting in Tampa. In addition to reviewing the peer review process, ORAU also presented the board with a collection of reviewer comments captured within PeerNet.

Thanks in large part to ORAU’s expertise and commitment to process integrity, the board ultimately recommended seven proposals for funding to the Board of Governors.