Bringing discovery to life

The Georgia Research Alliance powers Georgia’s innovation economy by translating university research into real-world impact. We connect talent, expertise, infrastructure and early-stage funding — all to get promising discoveries “investor-ready” and fuel the launch of new companies for Georgia.

Our Programs

Talent

Helping Georgia’s research universities recruit world-class scientists (the GRA Academy), bringing deep expertise and hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants to the state each year

Infrastructure

Making strategic investments in sophisticated tools to keep scientists competitive for funding — while making it possible for all university scientists to share equipment, stretching dollars further

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Providing early-stage funding and counsel to help researchers launch more companies and deliver innovations to businesses and Georgians

Alliance-Building

Providing state leaders with a mechanism to leverage university innovation to address priorities and strengthen Georgia’s national competitiveness

FY2026 Metrics

Since our founding in 1990, we’ve turned $741 million in state appropriations into $17.6 BILLION in outside investment and company revenue. That’s an average annualized return of 14.4% ($24 for every $1 invested).

$995MR&D expenditures

through the GRA Academy

$1 of every $4In research grants to GA universities

goes to a GRA Scholar

3,959High-value jobs

created in GRA labs, startup companies

$426MRevenue and outside funding

flowing to GRA-backed startups

87%GRA-backed startups still in business

after four years (national average: 44%)

Innovation is crucial to Georgia’s future.

It creates new industries as well as highly valuable companies and jobs throughout the state. It helps our great state adapt to economic changes — and keeps Georgia competitive when recruiting industry. And it turns university brainpower into solutions that address the state’s top priorities.

The Georgia Research Alliance powers this innovation for Georgia. Founded in 1990 by leaders in business, government and universities, GRA is a unique alliance working to get promising discoveries “investor-ready” and fueling the launch of new companies for Georgia.

Our proven model

A nonprofit (501c3), public-private partnership, GRA works closely with the University System of Georgia and Georgia’s Department of Economic Development. State appropriations fund GRA’s programs; private and philanthropic dollars support GRA’s operations.

Georgia leaders comprise GRA’s Board of Trustees. We’re also proud to be an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber, working to grow the innovation economy for today and tomorrow.

Note: GRA does not provide indirect funding for talent, equipment, and grants awarded to the universities.

Member universities

Supporters of innovation

GRA’s operations are 100% funded through gifts and grants from companies, foundations and individuals. We’re deeply grateful for these steadfast supporters of innovation — without them, there would be no GRA.