Startups need talent. Students need experience. But too often, cost keeps them apart. Georgia Tech’s Office of Commercialization is breaking down that barrier—funding internships that give students real-world exposure while helping young companies scale.

This art exhibit in Georgia Tech’s Interactive Media Zone (IMZ), Technoterria, immerses visitors in a futuristic imagined museum in the year 2125, reflecting on 100 years of technological advancements and placing 2025 as the turning point of industrialization and AI advancement. By housing the digital skyline and interactive sculptures in a space with entrepreneurs, researchers, and students, T.W. Pilar and Ivan Reyes hope to inspire a future where technology is used for social good.

Imagine a doctor’s visit that never ends. An app on your phone and a wearable on your wrist monitor your health 24/7, alerting you to potential issues before you even feel sick. It sounds utopian: no surprise illnesses, faster diagnoses, maybe even AI-guided cures. However, as Georgia Tech researcher Catherine Wieczorek has found, today’s artificial intelligence health tools carry more than medical promise.

The FlameJackets, a team of Georgia Tech students and faculty, are developing a hybrid fuel-electric drone to detect and suppress wildfires autonomously. Born out of Georgia Tech’s Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program, the team is now a strong contender in the $11 million XPRIZE Wildfire competition.

“It’s the smell of the future,” says Mya Love Griesbaum, reflecting on her work with fungi. The 21-year-old materials researcher has come to appreciate the earthy odor of decomposing matter, a scent that symbolizes possibility: a future where fungi clean up pollution and transform the fashion industry. As the founder of Mycorrhiza Fashion, she is developing a sustainable approach to textiles by cultivating fungi-derived materials that can help address the pollution problem in the fashion industry.

Research shows that people with disabilities stay at a workplace 50% longer than their non-disabled peers. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024, the employment-population ratio for people with disabilities was 22.7%, compared to 65.5% of people without disabilities. That’s why In Good Company is coaching leadership on how to expand their teams to include people of all abilities.

Thad Oviatt, Founder and CEO of Parkent, in Atlanta, Georgia, created a smart bike locking company after witnessing a friend fall victim to bike thieves twice in the same week. One of the thieves even left a mocking “thanks” note in his wake. That pivotal instance sparked a lifelong mission for Oviatt to fix bike theft.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the potential to benefit a variety of industries, from agriculture to military operations. However, their reliance on batteries makes flights shorter and more expensive, while also being detrimental to the planet. Research from Georgia Tech's Schools of Interactive Computing and Computer Science highlights how solar power can make UAVS more sustainable and widespread.

Metzev’s software, Amptrail, provides EV recyclers and OEMS with information on delivery schedules, live maps of shipment locations, and a central place to manage and communicate directly with suppliers. Metzev streamlines the process of recovering, processing, and tracing batteries, providing a crucial tool to the EV industry.

VinoBarrel is the world's first sophisticated and sustainable wine preservation and pouring system, simplifying the process of serving wine to customers in venues such as resorts. Each barrel system can support two kegs, and using IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, the barrels can preserve, chill, and aerate over 250 full-sized glasses of wine.

Sylvia Janicki is reevaluating what it means to design for the future. A PhD candidate at Georgia Tech’s Digital Media Program with a background in landscape architecture, Janicki’s work bridges the gap between human-computer interaction (HCI), disability theory, and environmental design. Her most recent research explores how technology can foster deeper connections between humans, plants, and their histories, all while challenging traditional notions of accessibility and sustainability.

The average U.S. commercial building is over 50 years old, and only the top 25% of all commercial buildings are ENERGY STAR certified. Roughly one-third, or more, of the energy used by buildings is wasted at an annual cost of $150 billion. Joulea, an Atlanta-based startup, strives to modernize and redefine energy efficiency for commercial buildings.

Southwire, a major wire and cable producer in North America, also provides digital solutions and advanced tools. At its Spark Innovation Center in Tech Square, the company focuses on R&D, exploring technologies to enhance energy efficiency and meet its sustainability goals.

The Kendeda Building, certified under the Living Building Challenge, sets a high bar for sustainability with features like net positive energy and water use, composting toilets, and a rooftop garden. Its thoughtful design, abundant natural light, and open spaces foster collaboration, making it a hub for education, research, and community engagement.

In a world increasingly plagued by plastic pollution, artist Heather Elson is making a difference through her initiative, No More Liddering. Dedicated to reducing plastic lids in the environment, Heather transforms single-use plastics into art.