GTRI and SEI Announce Recipients of Phase Two Seed Funding From the Energy and National Security Initiative

In July 2024, the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), in partnership with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), launched the Energy and National Security Initiative through a campuswide workshop. The event attracted over 100 participants from units across Georgia Tech and GTRI. John Tien, SEI distinguished external fellow, professor of the practice, and former deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, along with Tom Fanning, former CEO at Southern Company, kicked off the workshop with a discussion on the role of energy in national security and the opportunities for Georgia Tech to align its research with this critical topic. 

The event concluded with the announcement of two rounds of seed funding, offering up to $500,000 annually for three years. The first round, announced in September 2024, provided planning grants to six teams to support their initiatives in the fall.  

Recipients of the second phase of seed funding have now been announced. This phase will provide research support in the spring, with an option for additional funding through the 2025-26 academic year. 

“This seed funding initiative by SEI and GTRI is a significant step toward advancing national security through innovative energy solutions. We believe this support will empower the funded teams to explore critical intersections between energy infrastructure and security, fostering groundbreaking advancements for a safer energy future,” said Christine Conwell, SEI’s interim executive director.  

Seven interdisciplinary projects by team members from Georgia Tech and GTRI have been selected for the second phase, also known as Category B. The projects include:

“The seed grant initiative is supporting energy and national security collaboration among researchers from multiple units across the Georgia Tech campus,” said William H. Robinson, interim chief technology officer and deputy director for Research in GTRI’s Information and Cyber Sciences Directorate. “We are very pleased to see the teamwork of these faculty members as they address important issues facing our nation.”

A follow-up workshop will be held this summer to bring together the awardees of the seed grant program. Additionally, a lunch and learn seminar series is planned in the fall to showcase the research progress of the seed grant program. For updates, visit the Strategic Energy Institute event webpage.