Novelis Inc., Atlanta, announces a new collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology in which it will invest $2.5 million to establish a Novelis Innovation Hub to promote aluminum basic and translational research, innovative business models, and related educational endeavors. It will serve as a cross-functional hub connecting Novelis’ technical and business innovators with Georgia Tech’s students and faculty. The company has committed $2.5 million to initiate research, and for faculty, student, and educational program support.
With the Novelis funding, Georgia Tech intends to recruit a senior interdisciplinary faculty member to serve as the director of the Novelis Innovation Hub. The director is expected to be identified and in place by the 2020 academic year.
Under the terms of the agreement, Novelis will annually identify sponsored research and/or provide a list of innovation needs, for which Georgia Tech faculty will be invited to offer proposals. An advisory board comprised of representatives from Georgia Tech and Novelis will evaluate the proposals that utilize the Novelis funding and external funding opportunities, as well as foster future technology collaborations.
“Our combined efforts will advance our mission to lead the aluminum industry as the partner of choice for innovative solutions,” says Todd Summe, Novelis Chief Research and Development Officer. “At the same time, we are helping fill the industry’s talent pipeline with outstanding innovators. We see this as just the next step in our partnership, which can serve as a model for transformative innovation across Novelis, the Aditya Birla Group, and our industry at large.”
