Mercer University Admitted to Georgia Research Alliance

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MACON – On the strength of its growing research profile, Mercer University has been admitted as a member of the Georgia Research Alliance, whose mission is to expand research and commercialization capacity in Georgia's universities to launch new companies, create high-value jobs and transform lives.

Mercer becomes the first Georgia institution south of the Interstate 20 corridor to join GRA. Its other members include the University of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Emory University, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia State University.

Over the past decade, Mercer's annual research and development expenditures have grown from less than $18 million to more than $30 million, and the number of Ph.D. students enrolled has grown from fewer than 25 to more than 350.

“The Georgia Research Alliance is an important organization that is contributing in significant ways towards building a 21st century economy in Georgia,” said Mercer President William D. Underwood. “Mercer scientists are already doing important work that is contributing to this endeavor, particularly in the areas of biosciences and engineering. The University's membership in GRA will open up even more opportunities for our researchers to collaborate with other scientists as well as business leaders and make even more significant contributions to building our economy in Georgia.”

Since its formation in 1990, GRA, an independent nonprofit organization closely aligned with Georgia's Department of Economic Development, has leveraged $595 million of state funding into:

$2.6 billion of direct federal and private investment in Georgia More than 150 newly launched companies Over 6,000 high-skill, high-value jobs A portfolio of inventions, processes and technologies that benefit humankind

GRA's work is accomplished by by recruiting world-class scientists to Georgia universities as GRA Eminent Scholars, by investing in state-of-the-art research technology for university labs, by fueling commercialization of university-based discoveries and inventions, and by forging and strengthening alliances among universities and industry to make Georgia more economically competitive.