The University of Georgia is strengthening its partnership with Rowen, a knowledge community located 39 miles from the university in Gwinnett County, to provide students with real-world experience and foster collaboration across agriculture, environment, and medicine, according to a June 3 announcement.
Rowen operates on 2,000 acres nearly equidistant from Georgia’s leading research universities. Its mission centers on innovation and collaboration among industries critical to the state. The foundation managing Rowen has emphasized that university partnerships are essential for attracting tenants in life sciences and technology. For the University of Georgia (UGA), these collaborations connect students with employers in sectors ranging from sustainable development to electric mobility.
“Through this partnership, our students are applying classroom knowledge to complex, real-world challenges alongside industry leaders,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, UGA’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “That experience not only deepens their learning but also prepares them to lead in fields critical to Georgia’s future, from environmental sustainability to life sciences. As Rowen grows, so will the opportunities for our students to contribute and thrive.”
UCB, a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company, announced plans in March to build a $2 billion biologics manufacturing campus at Rowen. This facility is expected to create opportunities for UGA alumni and other regional talent.
One major initiative is Living Labs—a multi-institutional project involving UGA through the University System of Georgia—which enables students to collaborate with industry professionals on industrial and environmental challenges. Over summer 2025, Rowen launched the two-year Hydrometeorology and Land Cover Change Observational Study (HALOS) involving UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and College of Engineering. The HALOS project uses drones, satellite imaging, and real-time sensing instruments to monitor environmental indicators during large-scale development.
“Rowen is leading the way when it comes to developing a community where sustainability and environmental stewardship are core principles,” said J. Marshall Shepherd, Regents’ Professor at UGA, who leads HALOS. “This study will provide valuable insights into how large-scale construction projects can be developed in sustainable and resilient ways.”
Additional Living Labs include projects led by Seth Wenger from UGA’s Odum School of Ecology assessing impacts on local watersheds as well as partnerships supporting clean energy solutions through the Georgia Electric Mobility Network.
Mason Ailstock, president of the Rowen Foundation, said: “Being involved in students’ academic journeys is especially meaningful for Rowen… Ultimately it is these students that will be employed by—and lead—the companies Rowen is looking to recruit… making discoveries that could change lives for all of us.”
