The Vermont Innovation and Research Alliance (VIRA) is an advisory body (Steering Committee) responsible for providing strategic guidance to the Vermont EPSCoR State Office for Vermont’s participation in the National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) and related research capacity-building initiatives.
 
VIRA serves as a collaborative forum for leadership across Vermont’s research, education, government, industry, and community sectors. The Alliance works to advance the State’s research competitiveness, strengthen partnerships among institutions and organizations, promote innovation and workforce development, and support the development of a diverse and sustainable science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) ecosystem.
 
Through collaborative leadership, strategic planning, and informed decision-making, VIRA helps identify areas of scientific strength and opportunity within Vermont and helps guide EPSCoR-supported activities and other STEM initiatives to enhance Vermont’s research and innovation capacity and economic impacts. In carrying out these responsibilities, VIRA seeks to foster excellence in research, broaden participation in STEM, and contribute to the economic vitality and well-being of the State of Vermont.