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.
The $100,000 investment is part of a broader partnership between Cisco and UCR through SoCal OASIS® — Opportunities to Advance Sustainability, Innovation, and Social Inclusion — a regional initiative led by UCR's Office of Research and Economic Development. The initiative brings together universities, industry, government agencies, and community organizations to use Internet of Things (IoT) technology to develop practical solutions to environmental and economic challenges.
The donated platform will provide rugged industrial networking equipment and artificial intelligence training to advance research, education, and innovation in communities while supporting interdisciplinary research, workforce training, and entrepreneurship. The applications include precision agriculture, clean energy, environmental monitoring, and intelligent transportation. It will also help engage communities through improved digital access, environmental data collection, and public health monitoring.
Cisco’s Industrial IoT Networking portfolio, including industrial routers, industrial ethernet switches, and the Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul, enables real-time connectivity for research in extreme outdoor environments.
“Cisco’s investment will help UCR to deliver experiential training to our region’s students and entrepreneurs who are interested in developing next-generation solutions that address sustainability challenges,” said Rosibel Ochoa, associate vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Anurag Dhingra, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s enterprise, connectivity, and collaboration group, said the collaboration is about more than technology.
“It’s about catalyzing a new era of education, research, and practical application at UCR,” he said. “By embedding Cisco networking and AI capabilities directly into the campus ecosystem, we are working together to develop innovative solutions that will translate directly into meaningful, real-world impact for the Inland Southern California region.”
Cisco and UCR plan to host workshops and research demonstrations throughout the coming academic year, including sessions focused on SoCal OASIS projects. Faculty and students will receive training to operate and maintain the IoT platform, while Cisco will provide installation support, technical guidance, and updated training materials.
Several projects are already planned.
One initiative will use predictive monitoring systems to improve energy efficiency in buildings by tracking electricity use and identifying opportunities to reduce consumption.
Another will support air-quality monitoring at the Salton Sea and in local communities such as Riverside’s Casa Blanca neighborhood. UCR Researchers hope the technology will provide more detailed information about pollution sources and environmental conditions affecting public health.
The platform will also support drone-based monitoring of emissions from ships entering the Port of Los Angeles. By collecting more precise environmental data, researchers aim to better understand the impacts of maritime transportation on regional air quality.
In rural areas, the technology could help improve connectivity for more precise agricultural operations and field research, expanding access to digital tools that support farming and environmental monitoring.
The partnership reflects the mission of UCR’s innovation and entrepreneurial efforts, which seek to accelerate the translation of university discoveries while fostering regional innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
SoCal OASIS® brings together expertise from academia, government, and industry to address challenges in clean technology, advanced manufacturing, and social impact. Organizers say the initiative is designed not only to develop new technologies but also to prepare the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
The Cisco partnership with UCR comes as UCR is building a new 37,000-square-foot facility for SoCal OASIS® just off University Avenue. The SoCal OASIS® Park features offices for startup companies, meeting rooms, and laboratories for testing vehicles and batteries, among other facilities and resources. It is scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Header image: UCR and Cisco officials tour the future SoCal OASIS® headquarters, now under construction.
