Georgia Tech Europe in Metz: A new milestone for transatlantic innovation

On August 27, 2025, Georgia Tech Europe celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its ambitious expansion project on the Metz campus. This event marks a strategic milestone in the institution’s development. It will reinforce academic and economic ties between the Grand Est region and the American higher education landscape.

 An expansion focused on academic excellence and innovation

With an investment of €15 million, the project involves the construction of an additional 4,400 m², doubling the institution’s capacity from 700 to 1,400 students.

The new facilities will feature :

• A semi-circular amphitheater for professional training,
• Modular classrooms and research areas,
• A 500 m² Student Lounge with a panoramic terrace,
• A technology showroom to showcase the campus’s innovations.

Georgia Tech Europe currently awards the same degrees as the Atlanta campus, which are recognized for their scientific excellence. The institution has also forged numerous partnerships with prestigious universities and research centers such as the CNRS, the University of Lorraine, and CentraleSupélec, among others. This underscores the institution’s commitment to academic excellence.

A powerful symbol of transatlantic relations

Since its creation in 1990, Georgia Tech Europe has embodied exemplary transatlantic cooperation. More than 14,000 American students have studied in Metz. They now serve as true ambassadors of the Grand Est region abroad. Furthermore, the presence of representatives from Georgia Tech Atlanta and local elected officials at the ceremony attests to the strength of relations between the two continents.

Strong local institutional support

The expansion of Georgia Tech Europe has received decisive support from the Metz Metropolitan Area. The municipal institution transferred the land required for the project for a symbolic €1. This powerful gesture has been described as an “act of confidence” by the president of the metropolitan area, François Grosdidier. It also illustrates the local political will to make Metz a center of academic and technological excellence. This support reflects the region’s commitment to fostering high-potential technological projects. By promoting Georgia Tech Europe, the instutions are reaffirming their desire to foster innovation as a lever for transforming the region and boosting the regional economy.

Grand Est, a region of innovation and academic excellence

The Grand Est region is now establishing itself as a true laboratory of innovation in the heart of Europe. It is home to several internationally renowned higher education institutions, such as the University of Strasbourg, ranked among the top 150 in the world according to the 2025 Shanghai Ranking, particularly in the fields of chemistry and life sciences. Other institutions such as CentraleSupélec, the University of Lorraine, and INSA Strasbourg collaborate closely with Georgia Tech Europe, thereby strengthening academic and scientific synergies.

But the Grand Est region’s excellence is not limited to its universities. The region is also recognized for its dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, driven by incubators such as SEMIA, which supports dozens of innovative start-ups in the digital, health, and industrial sectors every year. The Quest for Change network, present throughout the region, illustrates this regional commitment to supporting the emergence of projects with high technological potential.

Finally, the Grand Est region stands out for its specialized competitiveness clusters, which structure innovation in strategic areas. Among them, Biovalley France is dedicated to health technologies and Vehicle of the Future to sustainable mobility and Industry 4.0. These clusters play a key role in technology transfer and research promotion, working closely with companies and laboratories.

The expansion of Georgia Tech Europe in Metz reflects a shared vision among economic and academic players on both sides of the Atlantic for world-class education, joint research, and sustainable innovation.