Norfolk Southern has committed $750,000 to Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) create a new initiative for entrepreneurs in sustainability-focused technology.

The ATDC Sustainability Technology Program will launch in January 2023, with NS providing the initial funding to support the current and future sustainability-related startups in ATDC’s portfolio over the next three years. The sponsorship furthers NS’ strategic goal of integrating sustainability into daily operations while helping our customers achieve their goals.

"Norfolk Southern and Georgia Tech are teaming up to support forward-thinking innovation around sustainability. Together, some of the brightest minds in Georgia and the business community can continue to make sustainable progress for our nation’s supply chain and economy," said Josh Raglin, Chief Sustainability Officer. “Through our collaboration with ATDC and the incubator's sustainability vertical, we will join with students and entrepreneurs in the business of a better planet as they transform their revolutionary ideas into actionable and successful business models.”

The funding will support one-on-one coaching via a dedicated ATDC startup catalyst who will manage the sustainability vertical, which are businesses that focus on that topic, and work to build the pipeline of innovators from across Georgia who are in this space and scaling disruptive technologies to bring to the marketplace. The funds also will support a sustainability-focused curriculum and other resources specialized to those entrepreneurs’ needs as they go from ideation to commercialization.

“ATDC has a history of supporting startups with sustainable tech innovations including Suniva, Emergy, and Quest Renewables,” said John Avery, ATDC Director. “With Norfolk Southern at the forefront of sustainability innovation and its support of our dedicated sustainability vertical at ATDC, we are doubling down on one of the biggest opportunities for startups and innovators today and pursuing a very important corporate and societal goal,” he said. “We can become a hub for all of these sustainability entrepreneurs and their innovations and grow this ecosystem in Georgia by helping to launch viable companies across the state.”

Read the full announcement from Georgia Tech HERE.