682501 news 1747918131 1755896629 <![CDATA[Advancing Critical Mineral Supply: GEMS-3 and GRACE Workshop Spurs Innovation]]> Last month, I had the opportunity to represent Georgia Tech SCL at the joint GEMs-GRACE workshop in Macon, hosted by partners from Georgia Tech, the Georgia Mining Association, and the Middle Georgia Regional Commission. The event brought together 70 participants from 36 organizations across economic development, academia, national labs, non-profits, and industry—underscoring the importance and growing momentum around critical mineral development in our region.

The agenda featured a strong lineup of speakers covering use-inspired R&D, workforce development, translation and commercialization, and ecosystem sustainability. Highlights included insights from leaders at the Strategic Energy Institute, Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub, Savannah River National Lab, Southern Company, and others. I contributed a perspective on the critical role of supply chain design in optimizing the development of any new critical mineral supply chain—ensuring we design networks from the start that are scalable, resilient, and efficient.

Perhaps the most valuable elements of the day were the breakout sessions and informal networking, where participants explored how we can collectively advance resource development with greater speed, innovation, and shared benefit. The level of engagement and openness to collaboration was impressive.

We’re now turning our attention to shaping a full proposal to support this initiative, and I’m encouraged by the alignment and energy coming out of this session. Many thanks to Dr. Yuanzhi Tang and the organizing team for bringing this community together in such a purposeful way.

Chris Gaffney
Managing Director, Georgia Tech Supply Chain and Logistics Institute

]]> 2025-05-12T00:00:00-04:00 On April 29, nearly 70 attendees representing 36 organizations from industry, government, academia, and nonprofits gathered at the Middle Georgia Regional Commission for the third Georgia Partnerships for Essential Minerals (GEMs) Workshop, held jointly with the Growing Resilience for America’s Critical Mineral Economy (GRACE) Engine initiative. The workshop marked a pivotal step in the region’s critical mineral strategy, bringing together leaders across sectors to align priorities and accelerate ecosystem development.

]]> 677112 image <![CDATA[Chris Gaffney speaking to GEMS-3 and GRACE Workshop participants in Macon, GA]]> 260980 image/jpeg 677113 video <![CDATA[Critical Materials 101: What’s so Critical about Critical Materials?]]> Critical Materials 101, a video series breaking down the building blocks of our clean energy future courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy.

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