Virginia Sen. Mark Herring, D-Loudoun, and Sen. Steve Newman, R-Forest, are co-sponsoring legislation which would create three separate programs to accelerate technology research and commercialization throughout Virginia, including one to attract professors and researchers to commonwealth colleges.
The legislation also creates a program intended to help companies commercialize technology projects and an expanded Research Matching Funds Program, which will help research institutions match and leverage federal and private funding for research and commercialization, Herring explained. "This legislation elevates Virginia's profile as a global technology center," he said.
By providing funds to create a research program which would attract professors to work with Virginia colleges, the bill would support commercial growth and create a partnership between the private sector and Virginia researchers for "new resources that can benefit both ends," said Jeff Caldwell, spokesperson for Gov. Bob McDonnell.
The bill was very popular and faced no opposition, Caldwell said.
Sen. Frank Ruff, Jr., R-Clarksville, said in an email that the bill received support "because it makes sense to try to sort out how best to wisely use dollars for investment to avoid duplication as well as to promote that research that is more likely to create investment and jobs."
The bill also fits into McDonnell's agenda to make education more affordable, increase the number of degrees available to Virginians and develop a new workforce with new technologies.
Colleges and universities, however, may have reservations about the bill, Ruff said. "It might step on a toe or two here and there," he said. "However, if taxpayer money is involved we should always have some oversight as to how best to spend it."
The bill would help undergraduate students, specifically by giving them the ability to work with funded researchers and see how research is conducted, said Jeffrey Blank, assistant vice president for research at the University.
The bill would prove useful for the University. "It would help our faculty and our students and our post-docs have access to more funding," he said. "It can also help affect health care for research to help cure diseases, it can help for support in innovation, [and] it can also help basic research."
-Kaz Komolafe contributed to this article
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