Since 2020, Georgia Tech has partnered with Sandia National Laboratories, a federally funded research and development center focused on national security. In February, the two institutions renewed their collaboration with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reaffirming a relationship that has already strengthened research capabilities on both sides.

The partnership has driven progress in areas ranging from hypersonics to bioscience, while also deepening institutional ties beyond research. Joint faculty appointments — such as Anirban Mazumdar, who holds roles at both Sandia and the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering — demonstrate how closely the organizations work together. The collaboration has also expanded student talent pipelines, providing more avenues for Georgia Tech students to pursue careers at the national lab.

“At its core, this partnership is about people,” said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research at Georgia Tech. “Sandia and Georgia Tech share a commitment to discovery and developing the talent, creativity, and collaboration our nation needs.”

The renewed MOU, he said, “strengthens connections between our researchers, opens new doors for our students, and builds meaningful career pathways into national service. When our communities work together to address national priorities, we not only accelerate technological advances — we expand opportunities for the people who will shape the future of our nation’s security.”

Under the new MOU, Sandia and Georgia Tech will focus on integrated research across key national security‑aligned areas, including secure artificial intelligence and computing, quantum technologies, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, energy and grid resilience, and hypersonics. The partnership emphasizes connecting manufacturing, computation, and systems approaches directly to national security applications.

“Together, we have been solving new and unprecedented challenges in science and engineering, and now we have a great opportunity to develop this partnership,” said Dan Sinars, Sandia’s deputy chief research officer. “Our research benefits both national security and national prosperity, and keeps the country at the forefront of the world.”

With this strengthened connection, the partners aim to grow their shared research footprint through increased funding, publications, and faculty-led startups. Over the long term, Georgia Tech intends to become one of Sandia’s top hiring pipelines, ensuring that talent developed through joint research continues into national security careers.

History of the Partnership

The Institute’s collaboration with Sandia began in the mid‑2010s, when the labs selected Georgia Tech as one of its partner institutions. The first MOU, signed in 2015, formalized the relationship and outlined initial technical focus areas. 

In 2018, George White, executive director of strategic partnerships, and Olof Westerstahl,  senior director strategic initiatives in the Office of Corporate Engagement, helped expand the partnership. They launched “Sandia Day,” an event designed to introduce Georgia Tech faculty to Sandia researchers and spark new collaborations. By 2020, the organizations signed a second MOU that expanded the partnership’s technical focus areas to include energy and grid security, materials and nanotechnology, advanced electronics, advanced manufacturing, advanced computing, cyber and information security, bioscience, hypersonics, quantum information science, and engineering sciences.

The results have been substantial. Since 2018, Sandia has sponsored $35 million in research collaborations with Georgia Tech. Researchers from both institutions have co-authored 450 publications since 2016. Research activity continues to accelerate, with $1.6 million in new contracts in the past year alone. As of August 2025, Sandia employs 325 Georgia Tech alumni — a testament to the impact of the growing talent pipeline.

“We view our work with Sandia as the model for engagement with other national labs,” said White. “With the new MOU, we will continue to grow the Sandia partnership. I would like to see our footprint double in scope in the next five years.”