In a significant step toward transforming how academic innovation reaches society, UC Santa Barbara has secured a long-term lease on a 105,000-square-foot research and development facility in Goleta. This expansion positions UCSB at the forefront of translating breakthrough research into scalable, real-world impact—reinforcing its commitment to regional and national economic vitality and global technological leadership. Under the direction of Umesh Mishra, dean of The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering, the leased facility will serve as a critical bridge between cutting-edge university research and industry application for social impact. While the facility is expected to support a wide range of campus research initiatives, Mishra welcomes leaders from the region and the state to reach out to explore partnership opportunities. 

“Right now, there’s a desert to cross between discovery and delivery,” said Mishra. “This space will be an oasis—where ideas don’t die in the lab, but grow into solutions that benefit society. Aptly named, OASIS reduces the financial and schedule risk for start-ups and encourages risk-taking by mature companies.”

Strategically located along South Los Carneros Road—within Goleta’s thriving tech corridor and adjacent to the UCSB campus—the facility is designed to foster seamless collaboration among UCSB researchers, startups, and established companies. The building features both wet and dry lab spaces, along with modern office and meeting areas optimized for innovation and translational-focused partnerships.

The new space enables UCSB to rapidly scale its support for applied research, prototyping, and early-stage manufacturing. It is poised to make an impact across high-growth sectors in which UCSB researchers are already recognized as world leaders, such as advanced materials and biotechnology, microelectronics, aerospace, defense, electric mobility, AI, and the emerging field of quantum technologies.

"The property provides critical space for collaborative innovation and presents a great opportunity to grow the university's research footprint in novel and exciting ways,” said Rachel Segalman, UCSB’s Vice Chancellor for Research. "This new facility marks a major investment not only in UCSB’s translational research capacity but in the region’s broader innovation economy—positioning the region as a national model for university-industry collaboration and impact at scale.

This new facility marks a major investment not only in UCSB’s translational research capacity but in the region’s broader innovation economy—positioning the region as a national model for university-industry collaboration and impact at scale.

“It is more important than ever that we have up-to-date facilities for our faculty, students, and researchers to pursue their groundbreaking research and innovation. This advanced facility strengthens our capacity to carry out our mission to advance research and education and serve the public good,” said UCSB Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost David Marshall. “It strengthens our commitment to industry collaboration and contributes to economic impact and development. This is a strategic investment in the future of the campus, Goleta, Santa Barbara, and California.” 

”This new space will enhance the ability of our faculty, students, and academic and industry partners from the local community, across the state, and around the world to collaborate, innovate, and propel entrepreneurship to new heights,” added Chancellor Emeritus Henry T. Yang, a distinguished professor of mechanical engineering.

The launch of the OASIS facility marks a pivotal step in UCSB’s commitment to advancing regional innovation through strategic partnerships. By bridging academic research with industry needs and aligning with broader national priorities, OASIS is positioned to attract collaboration across sectors. The initiative offers a dynamic platform for driving technological advancement, economic growth, and long-term impact in the region and across the country.