The I2CE Lab is a transdisciplinary research laboratory at GATECH. The lab works closely with academic, industry, and community partners on and off campus. Our goal is to advance integrative innovation for a circular economy. Following the Lab’s Industry Innovation Framework, sustainable solutions are developed by leveraging emerging technologies. From vision to realization, the I2CE Lab works on socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable, cross-scalar projects to protect and steward natural resources while sustainably benefiting local populations’ livelihoods. It integrates applied and computational research across bio-based and compostable materials, algae-derived green cosmetic formulations, parametric design engines for rapid product development, biomedical devices, and digital marketplace platforms that enable business transactions across remote and distributed geographies.

The Lab actively engages with communities most affected by climate change, including impacts such as rising temperatures, flooding, ocean warming, and ecosystem loss. These impacts threaten food and water security, public health, economic stability, and often lead to displacement and increased risks to human survival. The approach identifies and mobilizes existing community assets—skills, knowledge, resources, and networks—empowering residents to act as leaders and co-create sustainable, bottom-up solutions grounded in local strengths. It is guided by core principles of community-led action, long-term natural resource stewardship, and innovative technological and material advancement. Central to this process is deep collaboration between local communities and the Georgia Tech ecosystem, fostering meaningful connections that bridge academic research with measurable, on-the-ground impact.