Research expenditure at Virginia Tech has grown steadily, reaching $247.8 million for fiscal year 2003.  The university goal is to increase research expenditure by $250 million to rank among the top 30 research colleges and universities by 2010.

Research centers and faculty expertise in Virginia Tech's National Capital Region offers increasing opportunities to expand research partnerships and collaborations with private industry, local and federal agencies and other institutions of higher education in the region. 

Research centers in the region span a range of subject areas, including geospatial technologies, metropolitan dynamics, homeland security, information technology, engineering, biomedical engineering, transportation, family development, public policy, water quality and food and nutrition policy.

Since 2002 there has been an upward trend in research grants in the National Capital Region. Grants for 2005 already total $4.4 million.

Following is a list of Virginia Tech research centers in the National Capital Region: