Innovation District

George Mason is part of Northern Virginia’s first innovation district, launched with transformational grant from GO Virginia

Colleen Rich — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:34:37 +0000

George Mason is part of Northern Virginia’s first innovation district, launched with transformational grant from GO Virginia Colleen Rich Tue, 07/01/2025 - 10:34

Thanks to a major investment from GO Virginia, Northern Virginia’s first Innovation District is taking shape, laying the groundwork for growth in high-tech industry sectors like life sciences, aerospace, defense, and semiconductors.

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced last week that the commonwealth will invest $2.6 million into Northern Virginia’s first Innovation District, with an additional $1.3 million coming from local businesses, government, and higher education partners. The funding will help launch the Innovation District and roll out programs aimed at making Northern Virginia a national hub for research-driven industries, while giving residents the chance to pursue strong, lasting careers without leaving their communities.

This partial view of the 3,800-acre Innovation District in Prince William County and the City of Manassas highlights ��’s SciTech ��, with major employers like Micron in the background and the future town center site underway on the right. Photo by Prince William County Economic Development and Tourism

“GO Virginia continues to be a catalyst for innovation and collaboration, enabling regions to pursue economic opportunities aligned with state priorities,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin in announcing $6.8 million in state economic initiatives directed to talent development, cluster scale-up, regional site development, and startup ecosystem expansion “These projects reflect a collective commitment to building robust talent pipelines, supporting industry growth, and strengthening the economic competitiveness of every region in Virginia.”

The Innovation District, led by �� and in partnership with Prince William County and the City of Manassas, will accelerate scientific advancement, bolster startups and established employers, and create high-quality jobs.

“As Virginia’s largest public research university, George Mason is deeply focused on equipping students to lead and succeed in a dynamic workforce,” said Amy Adams, executive director of the Institute for Biohealth Innovation at George Mason. “The Innovation District will connect education, research, and industry advancing innovation and improvements across the region while also giving students opportunities that extend beyond the classroom for real world impact.”

The district exemplifies the goals of GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of high-wage jobs in strategic industries. The funding will give local workers more ways to acquire new skills and stay ahead in fast-moving industries. It will also support the introduction of new technologies, help entrepreneurs navigate the commercialization process, and increase the region’s appeal to companies from around the world.

Prince William County and the City of Manassas are key partners in developing the 3,800-acre Innovation District. The district includes Innovation Park, which houses major employers such as NAL Research Corporation, American Type Culture Collection, and the newly rebranded NOVA Live, as well as the Innovation Town Center project with housing and retail development. The Manassas Regional Airport, nearby aerospace companies such as Electra.aero, and global employers along Godwin Drive, including Micron and BAE Systems, further strengthen its position as a growing technology hub.

During the planning study for the Innovation District, local business leaders identified talent development as a critical factor for growth and expansion.

George Mason’s emphasis on career preparation, corporate engagement, and translational research is an essential part of the Innovation District. The university is leveraging cutting-edge infrastructure, including its CAP/CLIA-certified Clinical Proteomics Laboratory, Nanofabrication Facility, and a multi-story laboratory for air and ground robotic and autonomous vehicles, to support research translation and workforce readiness. More than an academic anchor, the university is broadening real-world learning experiences and opening doors for students to contribute to the region’s evolving economy.

University-affiliated districts are important links in the country’s innovation infrastructure, offering regional strengths with national relevance. The Northern Virginia Innovation District includes the Northern Virginia International Soft Landing Accelerator, workforce programs tailored to local employer needs, and young professional networks connecting early-career talent across the area.

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Virginia invests $235 million in support of Mason's tech talent degree programs

Colleen Rich — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 16:10:00 +0000

Virginia invests $235 million in support of Mason's tech talent degree programs Colleen Rich Thu, 11/07/2019 - 11:10

A concept design for the Institute for Digital Innovation at Mason's Arlington ��.

�� will receive $235 million from the state as part of the Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP) announced Thursday by Gov. Ralph Northam. The funding will support Mason’s role as a producer of graduates in high-demand fields and spur the expansion of the Arlington ��.

"This initiative is an investment in Virginians," said Gov. Northam. “Virginia’s tech sector will continue booming only if we can train the workforce those jobs require. With today’s announcement, we are educating a workforce that will fill jobs at hundreds of tech companies around the commonwealth, including at Amazon, helping boost our economy and quality of life in every corner of Virginia.”

Mason Interim President Anne Holton joined Northam and other university presidents at Virginia State University for the announcement. The commonwealth has signed memorandums of understanding with 11 universities as part of the TTIP.

"Mason’s strategic role in the Tech Talent Investment Program confirms our standing as a significant producer of diverse tech talent in Virginia,” Holton said. “We’re grateful to state officials for their confidence in our ability to continue to deliver high-demand tech talent for decades to come.”

The first of two MOUs that Mason has executed with the commonwealth calls for the state to invest $125 million in Mason to produce a cumulative total of 7,538 master’s graduates in tech fields over the next 20 years. This represents three times more graduates annually than Mason produced in 2019. Mason will match that $125 million, for a total investment of $250 million.

The second MOU calls for the state to invest $110 million in Mason to confer 8,410 undergraduate degrees in tech fields over that same period, about one-third more graduates annually than Mason produced in 2019. Mason is not required to match these funds.

In all, Mason will produce about 30% of 25,000 additional graduates in tech fields over the next two decades to serve region and state employers, including Amazon.

The state funding will support the expansion of Mason’s Arlington ��, which will include the Mason Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA), the anchor of an “innovation district,” inspired by similar districts established around the country by research universities and their partners. Holton said that IDIA and the innovation district will highlight many of the values that have defined Mason’s success over the past half-century—research, innovation, access and diversity—while also contributing to economic growth and job creation along the Ballston-Virginia Square corridor.

The Mason IDIA will draw on the university’s partnerships with private, public and community organizations in Arlington and house Mason’s tech-related research and education programs, as well as incubator/accelerator programs, start-ups, high-growth businesses of all sizes, and academic and community partners.

“The Mason Institute for Digital InnovAtion will bring together more than 200 faculty from across 10 Mason colleges and schools, uniting related research and innovation and producing thousands of career-ready graduates for the innovation economy each year,” said Deb Crawford, Mason vice president for research, innovation and economic impact. “In addition, the co-location of Mason faculty and student innovators with corporate-sector partners speeds the path to commercialization of university-invented technologies, including through start-ups and established companies.”

The university will share more details about IDIA on Nov. 20 at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Arlington ��, with state officials and Amazon representatives in attendance. That event will kick off the Arlington Forward speaker series for 2020 that will highlight the university’s role in the innovation district project.

Just as the anniversary celebration will reflect the past and present of the Arlington ��, so does the state support for the project, Holton said.

“The commonwealth’s investment in Mason is an endorsement both of what this university has achieved and what we can accomplish together as we deepen Mason’s impact throughout the National Capital Region and around the state,” Holton said.

Gov. Ralph Northam met with Mason leadership in October to look at plans for the proposed expansion of the Arlington ��. From left, Mason Chief of Staff Dietra Trent, Northam, Volgenau School of Engineering Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement Liza Wilson Durant and Vice President of Government and Community Relations Paul Liberty. Photo by Lathan Goumas/Office of Communications and Marketing.

Gov. Northam gets updates on Mason’s Innovation District plans

Colleen Rich — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:19:28 +0000

Gov. Northam gets updates on Mason’s Innovation District plans Colleen Rich Wed, 10/23/2019 - 12:19

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George Mason is part of Northern Virginia’s first innovation district, launched with transformational grant from GO Virginia

Shape the future with George Mason

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Virginia invests $235 million in support of Mason's tech talent degree programs

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