George Mason University renames innovation center after Sharma family gift

George Mason University’s Costello College of Business is renaming its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The change follows a major philanthropic gift from the couple intended to expand opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and strengthen the university’s role in the regional innovation economy.

Anil Sharma is the CEO of 22nd Century Technologies, a McLean-based IT consulting and government contracting firm that has grown into a $600 million company employing over 6,000 people. The center serves as a hub for experiential learning and supports programs such as the Patriot Pitch Competition, the Honey Bee Initiative, and the SOAR Initiative. The investment will help transform the center into an integrated platform connecting students, faculty, and investors.