West Virginia Science & Research, a division of the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC), and the Science & Research Council announce a significant update of Vision 2025: West Virginia Science & Technology Plan (S&T Plan). The S&T Plan is revised every five years to better reflect current economic conditions while highlighting opportunities for growth. It was approved and adopted by the Science & Research Council on April 29, 2021, and by the Higher Education Policy Commission on June 11, 2021.
The S&T Plan provides strategic goals aimed to develop West Virginia’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline, expand the research enterprise, catalyze more innovation and entrepreneurship activity, and support the growth of high-tech companies in these target platforms. These proposed actions build upon existing initiatives and collaborative efforts among higher education, industry and government.
Four high-priority platforms were identified that represent significant and growing university-based research and educational activities that align with West Virginia’s target industries and workforce development goals.
Life Sciences: Neuroscience; Health Sciences; Environmental and Natural Resources; and Agriculture
Computer and Data Science: Computer Sciences; and Data Science Applications
Advanced Manufacturing: Chemical and Materials; Transportation; and Civil Infrastructure
Advanced Energy: Exploration and Production; and Efficiencies and Decarbonization
The full digital version of Vision 2025: West Virginia Science & Technology Plan is available now.