Secure Energy Future Center Opens in Newport News, Advancing Region’s Innovation Economy

The Virginia Peninsula took another major step forward in building its innovation ecosystem with the grand opening of the Secure Energy Future Center in Newport News.

Located within the city’s growing tech and research corridor, the new center is a collaborative initiative anchored by Virginia Tech and designed to position the region at the forefront of next-generation energy solutions. The facility will serve as a hub for research, commercialization, workforce training, and industry partnerships focused on secure, resilient, and sustainable energy technologies.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together leaders from across government, academia, and industry, including Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery and Virginia Tech President, Tim Sands, underscoring the importance of regional collaboration in driving economic growth. The center is expected to support startups, attract private investment, and create new opportunities for high-skilled jobs in the energy and defense sectors.

The Secure Energy Future Center reflects a broader strategy taking hold across the Peninsula—leveraging research institutions, strategic industries, and public-private partnerships to foster innovation and long-term economic competitiveness.

As the region continues to build on assets in defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing, this new center represents a key piece of the infrastructure needed to translate ideas into real-world impact and sustained economic growth.