AI requires powerful cloud systems, and data centers power these innovations. Virginia’s strong data center infrastructure is a draw, but companies are also focused on ensuring a robust local workforce to staff the facilities. 

Backed by monumental funding deals, a peaking business profile, and a strong entrepreneurial undercurrent, Virginia is building an accessible, collaborative, and truly thriving innovation ecosystem far and wide across the Commonwealth.

Identified as a place where academic institutions, private industry and government could come together, a 462 acre plot in Albemarle County is the latest addition to a growing cluster of industries coming to define the Charlottesville area.

The global aerospace industry is reinventing itself, with innovation spanning materials, engineering, and a more expansive vision for how we take to the skies. Virginia sits at the heart of this transformation as a breeding ground for ingenuity.

With one of the highest shares of active duty troops relative to state residents, Virginia employers stand to benefit as service members prepare to transition into civilian life - and take their talents with them. 

Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector (GPS), talks with VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi spoke about GPS’ work with public and private sector partners to leverage Google technology to serve U.S. citizens.

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that lightweight metals leader Alcoa will invest more than $8 million to expand its aerospace forging capabilities at its Alcoa Titanium & Engineered Products manufacturing operation in Henry County. The investment will add a new grinder and two new forge furnaces, doubling the facility’s forging capacity and creating 15 new jobs paying above the average prevailing wage in the region. Alcoa expects to complete the expansion by the end of this year.

Prem Natarajan, Ph.D., is chief scientist and head of enterprise AI at Fairfax County-based Capital One Financial Corporation. He discussed his work managing technology strategy, architecture, and development for the company’s enterprise data, machine learning, and analytics initiatives.

Shannon Kellogg, vice president of public policy at Amazon, joined VEDP Interim VP of Knowledge Work Megan Welch to talk about Amazon's cloud investments, his public policy efforts supporting Amazon Web Services and other tech innovation the company is spearheading.

Fairfax-based ANRA Technologies works to create order from unmanned chaos, with an assist from VEDP’s VALET program.