Governor Northam and the Virginia Biotechnology Association announced on December 23, 2020 that GO Virginia has approved a competitive grant request to help fund Virginia Bio-Connect, a $3.2 million Statewide industry cluster scale up initiative. The project, directed by the Virginia Biotechnology Association, is a multi-regional collaboration designed to increase connectivity and awareness of the existing programs, resources, and communities in the Commonwealth that support the life sciences industry.
The five regional BioHubs and co-leading entities are:
● Charlottesville/Albemarle: CvilleBioHub and University of Virginia Licensing and Ventures Group
● Coastal Virginia: City of Virginia Beach Economic Development and Eastern Virginia Medical School
● Northern Virginia: Prince William County Department of Economic Development and George Mason University
● Richmond: Activation Capital and VCU Innovation Gateway
● Roanoke/Blacksburg/Lynchburg: Virginia Tech Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and Carilion Clinic