Georgia Research Alliance

The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) is a unique nonprofit organization which brings together Georgia's research universities, business community and state government to create opportunities to grow Georgia's economy through scientific discovery.
Since its founding in 1990, the GRA has focused its technology-based economic development strategy in three areas: the recruitment of world-class scientific talent, the development of sophisticated research infrastructure and the commercialization of university research and development. In all, GRA's programs have generated some $2.1 billion in new investment in the state, helped generate some more than 150 new companies and created more than 5,500 new science and technology jobs. More on Georgia Biosciences and Life Sciences ▶

The Georgia Research Alliance and the Georgia Cancer Coalition became part of the state's Department of Economic Development in July 2011 as part of Governor Nathan Deal's vision for a business climate that encompasses and aligns the state's most powerful assets for high-growth companies. The Georgia Center of Innovation program will remain housed at GDEcD, ensuring a continued close-knit partnership with GDEcD's industry-focused business recruitment and expansion teams and remaining an integral resource for companies seeking to grow in the state.

The heart and hub of the GRA strategy is the nationally-recognized GRA Eminent Scholars® program. Its purpose is to bring pre-eminent scientists to Georgia's research universities and provide them with the tools they need to lead research and development programs with the greatest potential for generating significant economic gains for Georgia and Georgians. To date the program has recruited more than 60 GRA Eminent Scholars in diverse fields including vaccine development, molecular biotechnology, crop genomics, drug discovery, medical imaging, animal health and biomedical engineering.

VentureLabs at Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Emory University, Clark Atlanta University, Medical College of Georgia and Georgia State help build high-growth companies around laboratory discoveries. They seek out research innovations at GRA's partner universities, assesses their commercial potential, and provides resources to suitably address the management, market and technology risks associated with new venture formation.