{"682335":{"#nid":"682335","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Moving Toward Development: GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop Builds Momentum for Critical Mineral Production and Economic Development in Georgia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn April 29, nearly 70 attendees representing 36 organizations from industry, government, academia, and nonprofits gathered at the Middle Georgia Regional Commission for the third \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gems.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Partnerships for Essential Minerals\u003C\/em\u003E (GEMs)\u003C\/a\u003E Workshop, held jointly with the \u003Cem\u003EGrowing Resilience for America\u2019s Critical Mineral Economy\u003C\/em\u003E (GRACE) Engine initiative. The workshop marked a pivotal step in the region\u2019s critical mineral strategy, bringing together leaders across sectors to align priorities and accelerate ecosystem development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHosted by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/cems\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Critical Mineral Solutions\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech in partnership with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.middlegeorgiarc.org\/\u0022\u003EMiddle Georgia Regional Commission\u003C\/a\u003E, GEMs-3 highlighted the economic development potential of critical minerals through production and recycling. Critical Minerals such as rare earth elements, gallium, and graphite are materials essential for technologies ranging from electric vehicles, permanent magnets to national defense systems. Building on the industry-led conception of GEMs-1 and road mapping efforts at GEMs-2, this workshop focused on translating strategy into action, with particular emphasis on use-inspired innovation, commercialization, workforce development, community engagement, and strategic investment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeynote speaker\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgia.org\/center-of-innovation\/director-profile\u0022\u003ECostas Simoglou\u003C\/a\u003E, director of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgia.org\/center-of-innovation\u0022\u003ECenter of Innovation for Energy Technology\u003C\/a\u003E at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, emphasized the state\u2019s leadership in advanced energy manufacturing and innovation. Sessions highlighted ecosystem capabilities and insights from experts at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.southerncompany.com\/\u0022\u003ESouthern Company\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chemours.com\/en\/\u0022\u003EChemours\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ginnmineral.com\/\u0022\u003EGinn Technology Group\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.srnl.gov\/\u0022\u003ESavannah River National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gra.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Research Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gacth.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Cleantech Innovation Hub\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tcsg.edu\/\u0022\u003ETechnical College System of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.uga.edu\/\u0022\u003EUniversity of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003EPartnership for Innovation\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ethe\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scl.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESupply Chain and Logistics Institute\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E, \u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/batteries.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Battery Center\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/tang-dr-yuanzhi\u0022\u003EYuanzhi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, professor at Georgia Tech and director of the\u0026nbsp;Center for Critical Mineral Solutions, shared an update on the GRACE Engine initiative, which aims to develop a co-located innovation ecosystem that integrates extraction, processing and advanced manufacturing across Georgia. \u201cThe GRACE vision is to move from potential to practice,\u201d said Tang, \u201cby building a regional supply chain that is resilient, sustainable, built for speed and benefits all stakeholders.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfternoon breakout discussions brought participants together into focused groups to explore commercialization models, community advisory board structures, and pilot program priorities. Participants emphasized the importance of fast-start strategies, shared economic development, and leveraging existing regional strengths and infrastructure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Georgia continues to lead in kaolin mining and advanced manufacturing, the GEMs-GRACE platform stands as a model for how states can turn mineral resources and waste streams into new engines of economic opportunity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gems.research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Egems.research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn April 29, nearly 70 attendees representing 36 organizations from industry, government, academia, and nonprofits gathered at the Middle Georgia Regional Commission for the third \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gems.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Partnerships for Essential Minerals\u003C\/em\u003E (GEMs)\u003C\/a\u003E Workshop, held jointly with the \u003Cem\u003EGrowing Resilience for America\u2019s Critical Mineral Economy\u003C\/em\u003E (GRACE) Engine initiative. The workshop marked a pivotal step in the region\u2019s critical mineral strategy, bringing together leaders across sectors to align priorities and accelerate ecosystem development.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The third Georgia Partnerships for Essential Minerals (GEMs) Workshop, held jointly with the Growing Resilience for America\u2019s Critical Mineral Economy (GRACE) Engine initiative marked a pivotal step in the region\u2019s critical mineral strategy."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2025-05-12 19:29:27","changed_gmt":"2025-05-12 20:14:04","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677061":{"id":"677061","type":"image","title":"GEMs and GRACE Workshop - Yuanzhi Tang","body":"\u003Cp\u003EYuanzhi Tang, Georgia Tech Professor, and Strategic Energy Institute\u0027s initiative lead for Sustainable Resources providing an overview of GEMs-3 and GRACE Engine at the workshop in Macon, GA\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1747076906","gmt_created":"2025-05-12 19:08:26","changed":"1747080991","gmt_changed":"2025-05-12 20:16:31","alt":"Yuanzhi Tang, Professor, and Strategic Energy Institute\u0027s Initiative Lead for Sustainable Resources presenting at the GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop in Macon, GA","file":{"fid":"260924","name":"YuanzhiGEMs3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/12\/YuanzhiGEMs3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/12\/YuanzhiGEMs3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":417189,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/12\/YuanzhiGEMs3.jpg?itok=McWZErfs"}},"677062":{"id":"677062","type":"image","title":"Scott McWhorter at the GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop","body":"\u003Cp\u003EScott McWhorter, Distinguishied External Fellow and Federal Funding Lead at the Strategic Energy Institute presenting during the GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1747077824","gmt_created":"2025-05-12 19:23:44","changed":"1747077947","gmt_changed":"2025-05-12 19:25:47","alt":"Scott McWhorter, Distinguishied External Fellow and Federal Funding Lead at the Strategic Energy Institute at the GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop","file":{"fid":"260925","name":"IMG_5402-cropped_ScottMcWhorter.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/12\/IMG_5402-cropped_ScottMcWhorter.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/12\/IMG_5402-cropped_ScottMcWhorter.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":401560,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/12\/IMG_5402-cropped_ScottMcWhorter.jpg?itok=TpMNgI68"}},"677063":{"id":"677063","type":"image","title":"Matt McDowell at the GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMatt McDowell, Professor at Georgia Tech presenting during the GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1747077989","gmt_created":"2025-05-12 19:26:29","changed":"1747078046","gmt_changed":"2025-05-12 19:27:26","alt":"Matt McDowell, Professor at Georgia Tech presenting during the GEMs-3 and GRACE Workshop","file":{"fid":"260926","name":"IMG_5417-MattMcDowell.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/12\/IMG_5417-MattMcDowell.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/12\/IMG_5417-MattMcDowell.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":365890,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/12\/IMG_5417-MattMcDowell.jpg?itok=P963OWuZ"}}},"media_ids":["677061","677062","677063"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by: Yuanzhi Tang\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENews contact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}