Economic Development

UVA is a member of the Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology (VAST), a coalition established to elevate Virginia as a leader on the forefront of the burgeoning semiconductor industry. The semiconductor alliance will serve industry and the semiconductor, microelectronics, and nanotechnology ecosystem by creating a collaborative network of Virginia’s preeminent universities to provide easy access to state-of-the-art research facilities across the Commonwealth of Virginia and provide valuable certifications to bolster workforce access in these rapidly evolving fields.

AgroSpheres, a biotechnology company pioneering breakthroughs in sustainable crop protection and crop health, today announced the signing of a major collaboration with FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC), a global leader in agriculture sciences. The long-term alliance represents a major milestone in launching AgroSpheres’ vertically integrated product pipeline.

The University of Virginia and Virginia Tech are two of 21 East Coast universities partnering with semiconductor company Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) and the National Science Foundation on a workforce development initiative that’s an integral part of the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act.

Albemarle County, in collaboration with the University of Virginia Foundation, has been awarded a $3M Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP) Grant to advance site readiness at North Fork.

The UVA Manning Institute of Biotechnology positions UVA at the very forefront of cutting-edge medicine, such as cellular and gene therapies that revolutionize how diseases are treated and cured. It is also anticipated to attract pharmaceutical and biotech companies to what is expected to become a major hub for research and manufacturing centered around UVA’s new state-of-the-art biotech facility.

A strategic expansion of UVA's presence in northern Virginia will increase academic programming and research in this important economic region of the state. Expanded course offerings in several schools will help those looking to gain additional skills to further their careers.

Several companies, including some founded by UVA alumni, are offering guaranteed job interviews to students with certain certificates from the School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies.

A mobile health platform developed at the University of Virginia that is being licensed by a UVA Licensing & Ventures Group company – with guidance from its Entrepreneurs in Residence program – is making the lives of people with HIV around the world easier.

Explore 2022's first quarter edition of the Virginia Economic Review featuring a story on UVA and its support for the life sciences industry in Charlottesville (p. 32).

A partnership between UVA’s College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, UVA Edge is a yearlong, six-course online program that helps adults develop skills such as leadership, effective communication and digital literacy while earning credits that could help them toward a degree.

A new cross-curricular specialized course of study in the M.S. in Commerce Program will offer students indispensable knowledge and learning experiences while facilitating valuable industry and alumni engagement. Students with life science backgrounds will gain business skills and emerge ready to excel in areas where the the life sciences and the biotechnology industry convene.

View initial community input on the University's three proposed sites for Affordable Housing development. View summarized insights from a community survey and comment wall that captured more than 1,000 survey responses and dozens of comments.

Leaders from the area's largest employers discussed the challenges of attracting and retaining employees at the Chamber's "State of the Community" event. UVA President Jim Ryan participated, highlighting UVA's contributions to affordable housing.

The Propel Management Consulting Program is a collaboration between the Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (CVSBDC), the UVA Career Center, and the UVA Office of Economic Development to engage students in team-based projects sourced through employer partners and local start-ups.

UVA joined with Virginia colleges and universities to commit to doubling the state’s tech graduates as part of a bold vision for a historic tech-talent pipeline initiative that was central to recruiting Amazon HQ2 to the Commonwealth. UVA will receive $33 million through 2039 to support the expansion of degrees in computer science-related areas.

Planning is underway to advance Venture Central, an initiative designed by UVA, the city of Charlottesville, the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce, and Albemarle County to spur startup success, job growth, and investment. The effort will coordinate disparate resources, connect entrepreneurs to a support network, offer targeted programs, and serve as a “front door” to the entrepreneurial community.

The University is a key contributor to a higher education system that propelled Virginia to America’s top state for business in 2019 and again in 2021.

Researchers at UVA’s Biocomplexity Institute have won a new $10 million, five-year NSF grant to plan for, and respond to, epidemics and pandemics.

UVA has established a goal to support the development of 1,000 to 1,500 affordable housing units in Charlottesville and Albemarle County over the next decade on land owned by the University and the UVA Foundation. UVA is committed to serving as a responsible anchor institution and good neighbor.

People who live in rural Virginia have seen a larger rise in their incomes so far this decade than people who live in metro areas, according to a recent report out of the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. The Cooper Center leverages the research, expertise, and resources of the University of Virginia to inform public policy, develop public leaders, and deliver strategic and technical assistance across the Commonwealth.

Ten major initiatives comprise the 10-year strategic plan's roadmap, including an intiative to make UVA symonymous with service by leading economic development through academic discovery and entrepreneurship.

UVA and UVA-Wise are finding new ways to engage in university-based economic development in Southwest Virginia. The Appalachian Prosperity Project partnership is advancing health, education, and economic prosperity in the region.

A groundbreaking research collaboration at the UVA School of Medicine is shedding light on everything from cancer to diabetes to cardiovascular disease. Receiving $12.5 million from the National Institutes of Health, the project will apply knowledge, assets, and resources to real-world problems through research.

Jobs requiring a bachelor's or advanced degree are on the rise. As part of the 2030 Strategic Plan, UVA will expand both in-person and online educational opportunities for working adults, especially the 1.1 million Virginians who have some college credits, but have not yet earned a degree.

Curry School professor Robert Tai is seeking ways to engage and sustain young students' early interest in science. His work is addressing the decline in science interest as children grow, a challenge that can have huge ethical, political, and social impacts.

UVA prepares more students than ever for in-demand jobs. Data shows that UVA is offering more and more students education in fields such as computer science and biomedical engineering, a reflection of industry trends. New programs focused on emerging technology and social impact have also proven popular.

Central Virginia nonprofits can apply for grants to support community health initiatives through a partnership between the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation and the University of Virginia Health System. Funded proposals will improve the health of communities within Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson.

Curry School faculty member Jennifer Chiu and colleagues found a meaningful way to incorporate computer science into fifth- and sixth-grade classes, instilling relevant skills required by virtually every sector of the next-generation workforce.

Dark Skies, Bright Kids is a primarily graduate student run program at UVA that provides outreach to elementary and early middle school-aged students in Charlottesville. The program brings astronomy into the classroom and fosters an early interest in science that is important to a future-ready workforce.

An up to $486,994 grant to the UVA-Wise Foundation will develop the Clinch River Ecological Education Center in St. Paul, Virginia. UVA's work on a grassroots effort known as the Clinch River Valley initiative set the process in motion and provided a foundation for the grant application.

The Research Collaboration Corner seeks to integrate research with education and community engagement, bridge industry and academics, and encourage meaningful connections across disciplines. Research is one way that UVA applies knowledge, assets, and resources to solve real-world problems and spur economic development in the Commonwealth.