Georgia Tech to Lead $18.1 Million National Cloud Laboratory for Advanced Manufacturing
Georgia Tech has been selected to lead a transformative Programmable Cloud Laboratory that will revolutionize how researchers discover and develop new materials across the nation. Supported by an $18.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, this initiative represents a paradigm shift in materials and manufacturing research by leveraging artificial intelligence, simulation, and autonomous experimentation to accelerate discovery.
Built upon Georgia Tech’s renowned Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF)—a core facility of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute—the cloud lab will enable researchers from anywhere in the country to direct advanced manufacturing work remotely, refine experiments based on AI recommendations, and access cutting-edge capabilities without spending weeks on-site. The facility currently operates about 38 pieces of equipment with autonomous workflow capabilities, with plans to expand that to more than 100 of AMPF’s 160 total pieces of equipment.
“By making advanced manufacturing and AI-driven experimentation accessible from anywhere, we are accelerating the discovery of critical new materials and shaping the future of U.S. innovation,” said Tim Lieuwen, Georgia Tech’s executive vice president for Research. The cloud lab is part of a broader national effort to build a network of 20 AI-enabled cloud laboratories designed to work together, eventually combining capabilities and workflows across institutions.
The innovation is particularly exciting because it democratizes access to world-class research infrastructure. Researchers can pose a research question, receive AI-recommended experiments, have those experiments executed by robots at the facility, and receive results—all without being on-site or requiring deep expertise in each piece of equipment. This approach will serve more than 400 users from 150 academic, industry, and government institutions, with more than half participating remotely.
Read the full story on Georgia Tech News.
Georgia Tech Research Reveals Data Center Economic Impact Varies by Region
Georgia Tech researchers have published rigorous findings that help policymakers understand the real economic impact of data centers—and the results are more nuanced than many communities realize. Assistant Professor Daniel Yue and postdoctoral fellow Yiyang Zeng from Georgia Tech’s business school found that while data centers do boost economic growth, the benefits are significantly more pronounced in urban and developed regions than in rural areas.
The researchers discovered that in metropolitan counties, a data center’s arrival led to employment jumps of about 4.1% and wage increases of 5.5% over the long term. In less populous counties, however, job and wage spillovers were negligible. This finding is crucial as communities across the nation grapple with whether to welcome or restrict data center development—more than 1,200 public actions against data centers have been logged since early 2024, and several states are considering moratoriums.
The study also examined electricity costs, finding that retail prices rose by approximately 5% in counties where a data center became operational—a figure substantially lower than some sensational reports have suggested. However, the researchers emphasize that the complex patchwork of regional grids, state regulations, and utility rate-setting rules makes this calculation difficult to pin down universally.
“The host community’s level of economic development matters more than the size of the project,” the researchers concluded, noting that facilities operated by major tech companies raised local wages more than smaller operators, and counties that attracted multiple data centers within five years showed larger cumulative gains.
Read the full analysis on Georgia Tech News.
What This Means for Georgia Tech and Beyond
These two stories reflect Georgia Tech’s commitment to addressing some of the nation’s most pressing challenges: accelerating innovation in materials and manufacturing, and providing evidence-based research to inform critical policy decisions. Whether it’s building the infrastructure for tomorrow’s discoveries or helping communities make informed choices about economic development, Georgia Tech researchers and facilities continue to lead the way.
What are your thoughts on these developments? Do you have questions about Georgia Tech’s research initiatives? Share your insights in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates from the Institute!