Virginia Tech joins government and industry leaders in Northern Virginia to launch new innovation district
Laura Freeman, deputy director of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute, joined leaders from around Alexandria and Arlington for the February launch of the National Innovation Quarter.
Leaders from across the innovation ecosystem gathered at the National Landing Experience Center on Feb. 11 to mark the launch of the National Innovation Quarter, also known as National IQ, a landmark innovation district that stretches across locations in Arlington and Alexandria.
National IQ is designed to bring together leaders from academia, entrepreneurship, government, and private industry to solve the most pressing challenges at the intersection of national competitiveness and next-generation technology.
As a new 501(c)(6) organization, National IQ will deliver year-round programming and notable initiatives, including innovation challenges, investor summits, product showcases, an international soft-landing program, and startup accelerators, all designed to drive economic and innovation outcomes to the area.
Virginia Tech is a founding partner of the National IQ, along with Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Amazon, Arlington Economic Development, JBG Smith, National Landing Business Improvement District, Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation.
“The launch of the National Innovation Quarter is an exciting endeavor that will strengthen the region and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Lance Collins, Virginia Tech's vice president of the greater Washington, D.C., area. “We strive to be a destination for talent—top research faculty and graduate students, who desire real-world impact on global-scale problems. Together with industry and government partners, we’re growing an innovation network that fuels new entrepreneurial opportunities here in National Landing.”
The event was emceed by Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, president and CEO of the National Landing Business Improvement District.
Laura Freeman, deputy director of the Virginia Tech National Security Institute, moderated a keynote interview with Alex Miller, chief technology officer of the U.S. Army. They discussed, among other things, how the various components within the National Innovation Quarter - academia, large and small industry, government - can break down barriers and effectively partner to solve problems.
Read more about the launch of the National Innovation Quarter through the official press release and its website.
Map of the National Landing ecosystem. Photo courtesy of the National Innovation Quarter.
