One year ago, the Savannah River National Laboratory opened a new 63,000-square-foot building in Aiken, South Carolina. They call it the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC). It was built as a “front door” to the lab, providing government, schools, and private companies with a shared space to work on tech, energy, and national security.

“In only one year, the AMC has demonstrated the power of bringing diverse expertise together under one roof,” said SRNL Director Johney Green. “The AMC is strengthening our national capabilities, expanding regional opportunity, and accelerating the creation of technologies that make a real difference. Its success reflects the dedication of our partners and the promise of how integrated innovation can advance environmental technologies, energy infrastructure, nuclear energy, fusion energy and national security.”

What’s Happening on the Inside

Photo: Savannah River National Laboratory

The teams focus on things like 3D printing, robotics, and testing new materials. Already, they set up a massive high-performance computing system that runs artificial intelligence models for the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission.

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Using 70 years of data on nuclear materials, they are building AI tools to manage waste and clean up the environment. According to researchers, this work could help save over $150 billion in future cleanup costs.

Cleaning up Nuclear Waste

The AMC works directly with groups like Georgia Tech, 3D Systems, and Silica-X. In fact, their work with Silica-X just won an R&D 100 Award, which people often call the “Oscars of Innovation.” Together, they made new materials that safely absorb and store nuclear waste.

The building also sits right on the University of South Carolina Aiken campus. This gives high school and college students a direct way to see STEM careers up close while bringing jobs and money to the local economy.

“The AMC has quickly become a space where people feel energized to explore, experiment, and build,” said AMC Director G. Jeremy Leong. “Our first year has been defined by collaboration and real teamwork that accelerates discovery and brings new ideas to life. We are just getting started.”