2. Virginia Tech’s Mission Statement Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) is a public land-grant university serving the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world community. The discovery and dissemination of new knowledge are central to its mission. Through its focus on teaching and learning, research and discovery, and outreach and engagement, the university creates, conveys, and applies knowledge to expand personal growth and opportunity, advance social and community development, foster economic competitiveness, and improve the quality of life. 2
3. Virginia Tech’s Strategic Plan Economic Vitality: Connect the university’s discovery, learning, and engagement assets through partnerships with both the public and private sectors to advance the economic vitality of the commonwealth and the quality of life of its citizens. 3
4. A challenge Universities should embrace their roles as economic actors The conventional view of universities in technology-based development is too narrow One-size fits all approach to universities in economic development is unwise Universities need to approach development strategically Richard Lester, Universities, innovation, and the competitiveness of local economies (Industrial Performance Center, MIT, December 2005) 4 4
5. Virginia Tech’s response (in part) Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Petersburg Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, Danville Tobacco Commission R&D Centers, Southwest and Southside Virginia Community College collaborations Virginia Economic Development Partnership collaborations Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Blacksburg Virginia Tech Research Center-Arlington 5 5
6. Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center 140 companies and 2000+ employees Phase I includes 120 acres, 27 buildings , and 1 million square feet at 90%+ Occupancy Phase II underway will include 95 acres, 18 buildings, and 1 million additional square feet 6
7. VT KnowledgeWorks Full-service business acceleration center Not an incubator, but offers incubation services 60+ active clients at all stages of corporate maturity – concept to cash-out 7
10. State-of-the-Art Technology8 • Developing intellectual property that can be commercialized within the region, • Working closely with industries and the government on applied research focused on critical issues, i.e., helping to solve the knotty problems that require extensive research,
11. Virginia Tech Research Center, Arlington (cont.) • Bringing to the region access to High Performance Computing and the technical expertise to help educate the workforce in understanding how HPC can revolutionize how to structure and resolve complex problems, • Creating a highly educated pool of graduate students who will live and likely remain in the region, • Bringing thought leaders in science and technical areas to the region to help government and industries stay ahead of the knowledge curve in areas such as energy, cyber-security, informatics, and medical technologies. 9
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16. Other Virginia Tech partners Applied Research Corporation Business Technology Center Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Economic Development Leadership Team 13
17. Office of Economic Development Align resources in the university with those in the public and private sector Create unique partnerships involving actors internal and external to the university Provide critical analytical resources for high impact projects Serve as a “think and do” tank for ideas at various stages 14 14
18. US Economic Development Administration (EDA) One of 53 US EDA University Centers Largest in the eastern US Relationships with EDA and other federal agencies 15
19. Workforce development CREATES HITE $3.8m US DOL Energy Training Partnership Grant Virginia Tech, Community Housing Partners, 3 Community Colleges, private sector and other partners 400+trainees Development of state of the art curriculum $4.7 US DOL Community-based Job Training Grant Virginia Tech, 5 Community Colleges, and other partners including 19 hospitals/systems 500+trainees Development of state of the art curriculum 16 16
20. Advanced manufacturing TEMCI $1.5 US EDA Community Trade Adjustment Assistance Grant Virginia Tech, GENEDGE, Planning Districts, private sector including Volvo Trucks Estimated 20 technical assistance projects for firms Product development, process improvements, green technology 17 17
21. Policy and planning Post-secondary Educational Attainment for Virginia’s Adult Workers (National Governor’s Association) Development of Department of Homeland Security Campus Washington, DC (US EDA) Feasibility studies and plans on topics including: business incubation, technology transfer, and tourism 18
22. Contact John Provo, Ph.D. Director Office of Economic Development (0373) Outreach and International Affairs Virginia Tech 702 University City Blvd. Blacksburg, VA 24061 Website: http://www.econdev.vt.edu Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnprovo Twitter: http://twitter.com/japrovo Blog: http://www.ee.unirel.vt.edu/index.php/econdevelopment/ Tel: 540-231-4004 19
Editor's Notes
Industry creation (Silicon valley)Industry Industry creation Boston: Systems biology Silicon Valley: Personal computerIndustry transplantation I-85 corridor (NC/SC): Automotive assembly Taipai-Hsinchu corridor: ElectronicsDiversification existing industry Akron: Tires to advanced polymers Rochester, NY: Cameras, copiers to opto-electronicUpgrade existing industry Tampere, Finland: Industrial machinery Charlotte: Motor sports (NASCAR)
Virginia Tech Economic Development Project Highlights 2008-2010Ballston CenterIn the National Capital Region (NCR) construction is underway on the Virginia Tech Ballston Center, a seven-story, 144,000 square-feet, LEED certified facility. The facility, located in Arlington, Virginia, adjacent to the headquarters of the National Science Foundation and Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, will be completed in 2011. Key research programs for the facility will include informatics and cyber-security, which are among the assets leveraged in a major new project partnership with IBM, and Arlington on disaster management modeling. Commonwealth Center for Advanced ManufacturingRolls-Royce is constructing a jet-engine plant on a 1,000-acre site in Prince George County, Virginia. Company officials highlighted the importance of the state’s higher education system in deciding to locate in the state. They have joined with the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech to create the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM), a new not-for-profit, membership-based scientific, research and educational corporation. CCAM will begin construction later this year on a 50,000 square-feet facility that will house computational and large-scale production labs, as well as open production space for heavy equipment and surface coating processes. Corporate Research Center Activity at the Corporate Research Center (CRC) continues to grow at a great pace despite the current down economy. The CRC currently consists of 120 acres, 27 buildings, and 1million square feet of Class A office and lab space, 90% of which is occupied. Last month the CRC broke ground on a new phase. This will consist of 95 acres, 18 planned buildings and will house an additional 1 million square feet of space. The CRC’s 140 tenants employ more than 2,200 employees. Tenant companies announcing expansions between 2008-2010 included Harmonia, Intrexon, Schultz-Creehan, and TORC who plan to create a total of 168 new jobs.Institute for Advanced Learning and ResearchThe National Tire Research Center (NTCR) is a $14 million collaborative effort involving General Motors, Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). The NTRC is anticipated to generate $12 million in testing revenue within five years and generate 183 jobs within the region by 2020. Construction has begun on a new Sustainable Energy Technology Center (SEnTec), a 25,000 square feet facility including research laboratories, support services and offices to be utilized by IALR and Virginia Tech faculty. This project, funded by the Virginia Tobacco Commission, is focused on technology transfer and associated commercialization and will provide opportunities for contract research and may spin off businesses or license technologies developed at the center. Tobacco Commission Energy R&D Centers The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission provided $36M toward construction of facilities to support energy research and development. Virginia Tech provided thought leadership and facilitated discussion between the Tobacco Commission and communities in the creation of these facilities. Region 2000’s Center for Advanced Engineering and Research (CAER), focused on Nuclear Engineering, and IALR’s Sustainable Energy Technology Center already have active relationships with Virginia Tech faculty. CAER has already served to anchor partnerships with Region 2000’s growing nuclear industry firms. Virginia Community College CollaborationsVirginia Tech led two teams that secured $9.5 million for job training and curricular development in Green, Energy-Efficient Construction and Health Information Technology for Southwest Virginia. Faculty from Building Construction, Business Information Technology, Urban Affairs and Planning, and the Office of Economic Development worked with dozens of industry partners and six community colleges to develop these programs that will provide cutting-edge training upgrading the skills of workers in these industries. Among the industry partners are leading regional firms including as Breakell and Carilion. Virginia Economic Development Partnership CollaborationsThe state’s system of higher education is a key asset cited by economic developers in marketing Virginia. Some companies, such as Rolls-Royce, very explicitly identify the role Virginia Tech and others schools play in their location choice. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership places particular value on their relationship with Virginia Tech in vetting technology questions for the agency and helping to attract investments by firms. Between 2008 and 2010 many firms announcing new locations or expansions in Virginia had strong, substantive ties to Virginia Tech. These include industry affiliate or consortium members, CRC tenants, donors of major gifts, technology licensees, and partners in research contracts over $100,000.They range from energy giants like Alpha Natural Resources and AREVA to defense and aerospace firms like Northrup Grumman and Orbital Sciences. They created thousands of jobs, and invested millions of dollars of capital in the state during this period.
Office of Economic Development, reports to VP for Outreach and International Affairs5 professional staff, 1 support staff, 6 graduate students Significantly driven by external grants and contracts Internal collaborations critical to implementation including faculty in: CALS, CAUS, COE, and PamplinProvide both funded projects and engage classes
Identified the opportunityConvened the teamWrote the grantOrganized “start-up”Collaborate on implementationDelivered VT specialists
Identified the opportunityConvened the teamWrote the grantOrganized “start-up”Collaborate on implementationDelivered VT specialists
