Building Cleantech in Practice

April 26, 2026, 10:04am EDT

In Atlanta, a new cleantech partnership is addressing a challenge many regions face but rarely solve in an integrated way.

JPMorganChase has committed $600,000 to support work led by the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub, in partnership with PIN and a network of universities. The effort focuses on two persistent gaps that typically operate separately: talent pathways and startup infrastructure.

The first is early exposure to cleantech careers. Students from Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Georgia State University will participate in hands-on programs that connect them directly to companies, technologies, and applied projects.

Instead of encountering cleantech late in their academic journey, students are introduced earlier—while they still have time to build relevant skills and make informed career decisions.

The second is physical infrastructure. Early-stage cleantech companies require space to prototype, test, and refine hardware. In Atlanta, that type of space is limited. The grant supports planning for a facility designed specifically for this stage of company development, reducing a major barrier to growth.

Individually, these are familiar challenges. Regions across the country are investing in workforce pipelines and startup ecosystems. What is different here is how these elements are being developed together.

PIN’s role is to align the system around the work. This includes coordinating universities, industry partners, and ecosystem organizations so that talent development, company growth, and infrastructure planning reinforce each other rather than operate in parallel.

“What makes this partnership meaningful is the shared commitment to doing the work differently. At PIN, we’ve built a model that connects communities, universities, and industry in a way that creates lasting impact. This support allows us to continue scaling that model, expanding what’s possible for communities across the region and ensuring innovation reaches the people and places that need it most.”

— Debra Lam

Because of this integration:

Students gain earlier, applied exposure to cleantech careers
Startups have a clearer path from concept to commercialization
Institutions build shared infrastructure instead of duplicating efforts

This is still early-stage work. Questions remain around how facilities will be used and how programs will connect across campuses. But the structure is in place.

For regions working to grow cleantech economies, the conditions are often the same: strong universities, emerging startups, and gaps between them. This model shows how those pieces can be connected into a system that is designed to scale.

“JPMorganChase is committed to growing with Atlanta, from empowering its world-class workforce to supporting its 148,000 small businesses, to increasing affordable housing options. We know that when our customers succeed, so do our communities. That is why we’re investing in a future for Atlanta that’s stronger and more prosperous than ever before.”

— Keith Fleming and Mark Adams