Ten years after its founding and as a result of Vision Hampton Roads -- the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process -- the Hampton Roads Research Partnership transforms into Innovate!HamptonRoads™ with a renewed commitment to diversify the regional economy, following the "Economic Gardening" model.

The Hampton Roads Research Partnership was created to provide a mechanism for collaborative research leading to technology-based economic development with a consortium consists of seven colleges and universities, two federal laboratories and a research institute. The power to compete with other regions more effectively is enhanced by leveraging existing strengths in carefully selected areas, known as technology clusters. The intended result: substantially increased prosperity for Hampton Roads institutions, companies, and the community at large.

Today's Innovate!HamptonRoads™ is a synergistic collaboration whose goal remains to increase regional prosperity through technology-based economic development.

Innovate!HamptonRoads™ continues to facilitate research efforts among its members and with industry, leveraging state-of-the-art facilities and engaging the intellectual capital of more than 2,000 affiliated scientists and engineers. It’s focus has been expanded to connecting entrepreneurs, ideas and investment through our Technology clusters --- a unique mix of scientific talent, business acumen and existing infrastructure --- fueling an upwards-spiraling cycle of technology transfer and wealth creation.
 

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2011 – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration announced a $500,000 grant to the Hampton Roads Partnership of Norfolk, Va., to expand the region’s tech-based economy through support of the Innovate! Hampton Roads initiative, a network of seven regional incubators throughout Hampton Roads, Virginia.
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Learn more at http://VisionHamptonRoads.com.