Virginia is recognized for a rich array of higher education resources. This system of autonomous public and private institutions impacts economic development through the work of Virginia’s University Based Economic Development officers (UBED). UBED meeting participants include state supported 4-year degree granting instititutions, economic development agencies, community colleges, private non-profit institutions, and industry. These meetings provide a forum for sharing best practices across higher education institutions and exposing agencies and industry to the assets found in Virginia’s universities. UBED is also professionalizing the practice of university-based economic development in the state. In 2012 UBED’s role became more formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the Chair of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and the presidents of Virginia’s 15 public four-year degree-granting institutions. This MOU affirms that the parties will intentionally leverage the capabilities of Virginia’s institutions of higher education for economic development outcomes. UBED and the staff of VEDP were designated to operationalize this MOU, which we believe is one-of-a-kind in the United States. Virginia is now home to several university-industry collaborations spanning multiple schools and involving major industry partners in areas including advanced manufacturing, environmental design, life sciences, logistics and nuclear engineering. Under the MOU, UBED and VEDP are currently exploring opportunities for international campus locations and international business development offices and alumni networks and gubernatorial trade missions to generate new leads for economic developers and new private sector resources for universities. Read the Case Study: http://universityeda.org/value-to-members/best-practice-sharing/awards-of-excellence/awards-of-excellence-2013-finalists/virginias-university-based-economic-development-officers/