As part of the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the Georgia Artificial Intelligence Manufacturing Technology Corridor (GA-AIM) is one of 21 winning projects announced recently by the Biden administration. The GA-AIM project will receive $65 million to support a statewide program that combines artificial intelligence with manufacturing innovations, in addition to transformational workforce and outreach programs.
The project is led by the Schools of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech, joined by a long list of partners including the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Cyber Center, the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, the Technical College System of Georgia and the University of Georgia among others.
“Georgia Tech is honored to lead this vision of collaborative innovation and economic development across all regions of our state,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “This award underscores the Institute’s commitment to leverage our resources and expertise to address great challenges, serve our state and nation, and amplify our impact on the world.”
The BBB Regional Challenge tasked communities with identifying projects that can transform local economies, expand equitable economic growth and enhance the country’s global competitiveness. Winners span 24 states and received between $25 and $65 million for the projects, meaning the Georgia project is the largest single awardee in the program.
“As we invest and grow critical industries in the U.S., we want to create industry hubs in diverse communities across the country,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement. “These grants will provide critical and historic funding directly to community coalitions to invest in new infrastructure, research and development, and workforce development programs while creating good-paying jobs, supporting workers, and prioritizing equity.”
Georgia Tech is already home to the AI Manufacturing Pilot Facility, which allows for government and industry to test cybersecurity and workforce training for AI manufacturing technologies. The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, located in Atlanta, is another piece of the large puzzle on this project. The Center will create a mobile, 5,000-square-foot LaunchPad AI Innovation Studio for prototyping and proof-of-concept development for physical products. Black entrepreneurs across the state will have access to equipment, training and mentoring. The studio will also work with Atlanta’s k-12 schools to provide access to students interested in entrepreneurial endeavors.
“We are excited to be a part of this collaborative effort to catalyze research and innovation in AI and manufacturing across the state of Georgia,” said Chaouki T. Abdallah, executive vice president for Research at Georgia Tech. “This project aligns with our goals to expand economic opportunity in our state’s underserved communities, and to serve as a collaborative hub for interdisciplinary research that advances technology and improves people’s lives.”
