Prominent Virginia Non-Profit Research Institutions Form Partnership — Combined annual research budget of over $325 million

Alexandria, Virginia — Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Virginia's largest university and among the nations 50 top research institutions, and The CNA Corporation (CNA), a historically significant non-profit research organization, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on research programs of mutual interest.

Together CNA and Virginia Tech represent a formidable research partnership with a combined annual research budget of over $325 million. They share research interests and have significant expertise in the areas of national defense, education, healthcare, transportation and domestic security.

Dr. Jim Bohland, Executive Director of Northern Virginia Operations for Virginia Tech, announced the collaboration, citing "a wealth of new opportunities for research collaboration and closer ties to federal agencies in the National Capital Region".

Key elements of the MOU include:

• Collaboration on research programs of mutual interest
• Identifying priority interest areas and potential funding sources
• Establishing a joint research council to identify and review research opportunities and to facilitate collaborative and joint venture research projects.
• Encouraging faculty and research staff exchanging and student mentoring between the institutions.

As an initial activity, CNA will host a Virginia Tech faculty member at their headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

"Research collaborations of this nature can be a valuable approach to seeking answers to the toughest research challenges facing society, said Dr. David Kelsey, Senior Vice President for Research at The CNA Corporation. "It offers an opportunity for technical experts to think anew about the problems they are working to solve. We welcome this partnership", said Kelsey.