Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems

What Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems does

Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems (IMS) is an Interdisciplinary Research Institute within the Georgia Institute of Technology that operates shared nanofabrication and materials characterization infrastructure for the research community. Its core facilities span more than 23,000 square feet of cleanroom space across the Marcus Nanotechnology Building (20,000 sq ft) and the Pettit Microelectronics Research Building, supported by the Materials Characterization Facility (MCF) and the Mechanical Properties Characterization Facility (MPCF). Tooling includes electron-beam lithography (Elionix), maskless aligners, DRIE/ICP/RIE etching, ALD/PVD/CVD deposition, microscale 3D metal printing (Exaddon CERES μAM), and electron/X-ray microscopy with capabilities from sub-zero to 1650°C. Access is managed through the proprietary Shared User Management System (SUMS) platform, which handles reservations, training, billing, and onboarding for internal Georgia Tech researchers as well as external academic, government, and industry users worldwide, operating 24/7.

IMS monetizes access through usage-based pricing with distinct tiers: Georgia Tech/US academic users pay $275/month entry plus $28/hr usage, while Foreign Academic/Industry users pay $850/month and $39/hr, with specialized tools like the Elionix EBL priced at $77/hr vs. $188/hr across tiers. Revenue is complemented by short courses (EBL Workshop $200-$1,000; Microfabrication $800 industry; Soft Lithography $150-$600) and staff-assisted work ($75-$100/hr). Beyond infrastructure, IMS operates a portfolio of workforce-development programs including a Graduate Apprenticeship Program (50% stipend/tuition support), a Veterans Microelectronics Certificate Program (NSF ATE funded, 12-week), Research Experiences for Undergraduates, K-12 educator programs, and instructional labs serving ~150 Georgia Tech students annually. The institute holds membership in the NSF-supported National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) and participates in the Georgia Research Alliance Core Exchange, providing institutional positioning and external-user reach.

Name

Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems

Legal name

Georgia Institute of Technology

Website

https://matter-systems.gatech.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems (IMS) operates 23,000+ sq ft of shared nanofabrication and materials characterization cleanroom facilities, serving academic, government, and industry researchers worldwide via usage-based access, short courses, and workforce-development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Facility Access Fees: Hourly cleanroom usage fees and monthly entry fees charged to internal and external users for accessing research facilities and equipment.
2. Training Services: Training sessions and staff-assisted work charged at hourly rates for certification on equipment usage.
3. Short Course Fees: Revenue from professional development workshops including EBL workshops, microfabrication courses, and soft lithography courses with tiered pricing for Georgia Tech, academic/government, and industry participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Institute for Matter and Systems operates a shared research infrastructure comprising a 23,000+ sq. ft. Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility (cleanroom) and a Materials Characterization Facility (MCF) supported by the Mechanical Properties Characterization Facility (MPCF). It provides fee-based facility access, equipment training, short courses, certificate programs, and workforce development to academic, government, and industry researchers through the SUMS platform.

Product overview

Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems (IMS) operates as a shared research infrastructure institute rather than a commercial product company. Its core offerings include two primary facilities—the Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility (Cleanroom) with over 23,000 square feet of cleanroom space, and the Materials Characterization Facility (MCF) for materials analysis—alongside the Mechanical Properties Characterization Facility (MPCF). These facilities are accessed through the SUMS (Shared User Management System) platform. IMS supplements its research infrastructure with professional development programs including short courses (Electron Beam Lithography, Microfabrication, Soft Lithography), the Graduate Apprenticeship Program, Research Experience for Undergraduates internships, Technical College Internships, and K-12 educator programs. Additionally, IMS offers a Veterans Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate Program in partnership with Penn State and Georgia Piedmont Technical College. The institute's Instructional Laboratories serve approximately 150 Georgia Tech students annually with hands-on fabrication and characterization courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility (Cleanroom)
• Materials Characterization Facility (MCF)
• Mechanical Properties Characterization Facility (MPCF)
• Shared User Management System (SUMS)
• Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) Workshop
• Microfabrication Short Course
• Soft Lithography and Microfluidics Short Course
• Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate Program (MNCP)
• Graduate Apprenticeship Program
• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Summer Internship
• Technical College Internship Program
• K-12 Educator Programs (RET and NanoSIMST)
• Instructional Laboratories

Quantifiable outcome

• ~150 students trained annually in instructional labs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sandia National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Georgia Tech renewed Memorandum of Understanding with Sandia to expand research impact, talent pipelines, and national security innovation through collaborative research programs.
• Pennsylvania State University (Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate Program (MNCP) for veterans. Penn State provides live-streamed lectures and CNEU certification through their curriculum while Georgia Tech provides hands-on cleanroom training at IMS facilities.
• Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional community college partner for the MNCP veteran certificate program. Serves as the local hub for live-streamed lectures in the metro Atlanta area with hands-on training at Georgia Tech facilities.
• Industry Partners for Veteran TrainingminorOthersCompanies providing industry talks and career opportunities for veterans: Applied Image, Global Foundries, Intel, KLA, Menlo Microsystems, Micron Technologies, Nanoscience Instruments, NXP, Qorvo, TEL, Texas Instruments, TSMC, WGNSTAR, Wolfspeed
• Georgia Research Alliance (Core Exchange Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCF is a member of the Georgia Research Alliance Core Exchange program, allowing member universities to access facilities at standard rates without F&A overhead charges.
• NNCI Sites (National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Northwestern University for Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program and shared best practices in nanotechnology education and outreach.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Minnesota Nano Center (University of Minnesota): UMN's NNCI-affiliated nanofabrication facility. Direct peer as both a university cleanroom and an NNCI network node.
• Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF): Stanford's shared university cleanroom offering nanofabrication and characterization services to academic and industry users. Directly comparable to Georgia Tech IMS in scope, user base, and operating model.
• Penn State Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization (CNEU): Penn State's nanotechnology education and workforce development center. Direct peer and explicit partner in the MNCP veterans certificate program, with overlapping curriculum focus.
• Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility (CNF): Cornell's shared nanofabrication facility with similar research and educational focus. Direct peer in cleanroom operations, NNCI membership, and user programs.
• MIT.nano: MIT's state-of-the-art nano-fabrication and characterization facility. Direct peer in scale, equipment scope, and educational programs serving MIT researchers and external users.
• Northwestern University NUANCE Center: Northwestern's atomic-scale nanofabrication and characterization center. Direct peer as part of NNCI network with comparable user base and instrumentation.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: UNL's NNCI-affiliated materials and nanoscience research center. Direct peer as part of the NNCI network with shared nanofabrication and training programs.

Broad incumbents

• Sandia National Laboratories: National security lab and IMS research partner. Overlapping research areas in microelectronics, materials, and nanofabrication, though Sandia operates as a national lab rather than a university facility.
• Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI): Georgia Tech's affiliated applied research organization. While housed at the same institution, GTRI operates commercial/sponsored research with overlapping technical expertise in materials and electronics.
• NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST): NIST's national facility for nanoscale measurement and fabrication. Comparable in offering shared nanofabrication and characterization services, though federally funded rather than university-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-tech-institute-for-matter-and-systems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Georgia Tech Institute for Matter and Systems