December 22, 2025

Celebrating 40 Years of Innovation — Where Education Meets Business

For four decades, the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) has stood as a place and a paradigm — a catalyst where education meets business, where researchers, founders, and industry unite to turn discovery into impact. On December 16, the VTCRC community gathered at The Inn at Virginia Tech to honor this milestone and celebrate the people, partnerships, and possibilities that continue to shape innovation across the Commonwealth.

Honoring a Vision That Sparked a Statewide Movement

The evening opened with reflections from Elizabeth A. McClanahan, President of the VTCRC and CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation. She spoke to the bold idea that launched the Corporate Research Center in 1985 — the belief that connecting world-class university talent with industry could ignite economic growth and transform communities.

“Forty years ago, the CRC began with an idea — that by connecting Virginia Tech’s intellectual power with industry, we could create something truly extraordinary,” McClanahan shared. “Today, our impact spans the entire Commonwealth. We are proud to be the wind beneath the Hokie Bird’s wings, supporting innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future.”

Her remarks underscored the momentum of a research enterprise that is now ranked among the nation’s strongest — and a VTCRC that continues to evolve alongside it. With hubs in Blacksburg, Roanoke, Newport News, and Alexandria, the VTCRC has become a statewide network of opportunity, enabling discovery, technology development, and talent pathways wherever Virginia Tech is present.

Where Collaboration Fuels the Innovation Pipeline

Brandy Salmon, Vice President for Innovation and Partnerships, highlighted the essential alignment between the university, industry, and the VTCRC in advancing Virginia’s innovation economy.

“The CRC is unique, truly one of a kind. One of the things that sets it apart is the sheer diversity of innovators who choose to build their future here.”

Her reflections affirmed the VTCRC’s role as the point of connection — linking faculty, research institutes, founders, and companies; advancing invention; and moving ideas from lab to market faster and more effectively.

Celebrating Tenants and Employees Whose Commitment Built a Community

A highlight of the evening was the recognition of long-term tenants and employees — individuals and organizations whose continued investment has shaped a thriving, resilient research park.

Companies and professionals with 15 or more years at the VTCRC were honored for their longstanding partnership and their contributions to an ecosystem that has helped launch more than 900 organizations since 1985.

Their impact is a reminder that the VTCRC’s strength is rooted in the people who choose to build their futures here: the researchers advancing discoveries, the founders taking bold risks, and the industry leaders driving solutions that matter.

Introducing the Joe Meredith Beacon of Innovation Award

Joe Meredith with Elizabeth A. McClanahan and Brandy Salmon
From left to right: Elizabeth A. McClanahan, Joe Meredith, Brandy Salmon

In one of the most meaningful moments of the night, the VTCRC introduced the Joe Meredith Beacon of Innovation Award — a tribute to a leader whose vision continues to illuminate the path forward.

This award honors Dr. Joe Meredith, former VTCRC President, whose decades of leadership were instrumental in transforming the CRC from a bold concept into a nationally recognized model for university–industry collaboration.

The award recognizes individuals whose leadership lights the way for researchers, founders, and visionaries across the Commonwealth — a lasting symbol of Meredith’s impact on Virginia’s innovation landscape.

A Toast to What’s Next: A Commonwealth Powered by Innovation

The celebration concluded with a look toward the next chapter — one defined by statewide growth, stronger partnerships, and a sharpened strategic focus.

With expanding locations across Virginia, the VTCRC is positioned to deepen its role in advancing research, strengthening entrepreneurial pipelines, and supporting sectors critical to the Commonwealth’s future.

  • Blacksburg remains the hub where Virginia Tech intellectual capital meets industry demand.
  • Roanoke contributes to the university’s biomedical and health innovation strengths.
  • Newport News integrates research with national energy, aerospace, and defense assets.
  • Alexandria expands the reach of the Virginia Tech Innovation Network, meeting the nation’s need for advanced talent.

New initiatives such as the Entrepreneur Resource Center (ERC), COgro Coworking + Labs, and the Secure Energy Future Center (SEFC) extend this mission — offering founders and companies access to tools, mentorship, shared labs, commercialization pathways, and collaborative networks that accelerate opportunity statewide.

As glasses were raised, one message echoed clearly: The next 40 years will be defined by the same spirit that brought us here — collaboration, curiosity, and the belief that when education meets business, anything is possible.

About the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center

Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, Inc. (VTCRC), in all its locations, is where education meets business. VTCRC is a place and a paradigm at work within an ever-changing landscape, wherever Virginia Tech is present. VTCRC is the wholly owned for-profit subsidiary of VTF.