U.Va. gets $1 million IBM grant to develop e-business technologies

The University was recently awarded a $1 million grant by IBM to support initiatives for Internet technology e-business. The Shared University Research award will be divided among the Engineering School, the Commerce School and the Darden School.

Part of the funds will be used to create an interdisciplinary e-business and Internet technology center that will coordinate the research and curriculum development needed to help explore the potential of e-commerce.

"U.Va. has a unique combination of engineering and business capability," says John Kelly III, general manager of IBM's microelectronics division. "This is extremely important to the advancement of e-business, IBM's core strategy."

Another goal is to develop effective Web-based technology to support virtual teams and mobile professionals. This will entail developing new voice, data and video integration technologies, as well as multimedia Web-based content.

Extensive resources at U.Va. are already dedicated to Internet-based initiatives. The engineering school recently inaugurated a $1 million Internet engineering teaching lab, the only one of its kind in the nation, and is moving forward with plans to construct a state-of-the-art information technology building designed to spread the new technologies throughout the University and to support high-tech enterprises throughout the state. The McIntire School is in the midst of constructing an electronic trading room and the Darden School, with its Batten Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, has become a focal point for high-tech start-ups. Both the engineering and commerce schools have initiated Web-based graduate degree programs.