Regional Review: Atlanta’s research hubs and startups drive tech sector growth

Writer: Eleana Teran

Regional Review is a year-end series from caa that looks at key developments in a focused industry throughout the year and sets the stage for what’s to come in the near term.

December 2025 — Atlanta’s tech and innovation economy is on the rise, as startup activity is picking up, corporate investment is widening, and higher education institutions continue to anchor the ecosystem with expanded research space and commercialization programs.

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“Atlanta ranks high for Fortune 500 headquarters, making innovation essential for long-term growth. Companies — like people — grow, mature, and either reinvent or decline. Innovation and R&D drive that reinvention,” Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, told Focus:. 

“Atlanta’s network of corporate innovation centers helps by providing access to talent, housing, diversity, and creative energy. Here, innovation is not only a trend, but a foundation for business sustainability and job creation,” said Klementich.

Strong fundamentals are supporting the region’s progress. The Metro Atlanta chamber ranks the region among the nation’s top markets for data center development and commercial real estate investment. Those assets continue to attract technology and logistics firms seeking room to expand in a cost-effective and connected market.

That physical capacity is matched by a deepening labor market. Georgia’s software, cloud, and cybersecurity employment has grown steadily over the past year. Demand remains the strongest in AI and data-focused roles, while local job postings signal an expanding corporate preference.

With a median tech salary approaching $112,018, the region is now competitive with larger metros due to its strategic location while maintaining a cost advantage that continues to drive both startups and established firms. Its smart tech infrastructure, alongside a healthy tech job market, has earned the city the top spot as America’s Smartest City for 2025. Together, these indicators point to an ecosystem maturing on its own terms, driven as much by practicality and affordability as by ambition.

Institutional anchors

Atlanta’s higher education network is one of the region’s biggest economic assets. Emory University boosts the region’s profile in life sciences and digital health. Its School of Medicine partners with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other research institutions, a collaboration that supports a high volume of biomedical research, clinical trials and traditional studies. 

 “Being part of a world-class institution and health system, in a city with so many partners, allows us to lead in research and innovation that improves lives far beyond Georgia,” Suresh Ramalingam, executive director of the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, told Focus:.

At Georgia State University (GSU), growth in business analytics, fintech, and research is gaining traction. In 2025, it launched an AI and fintech conference reflecting local demand, and it secured more than $165 million in research grants, a sign its academic resources are mobilizing around emerging tech fields.

Atlanta’s HBCUs, including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College, contribute to diversifying the tech and innovation talent pool. For instance, Morehouse hosts a new STEM education research center aimed at broadening minority representation in science and technology. 

These institutions are ensuring a flow of underrepresented talent into emerging fields through different initiatives, including joint career fairs.

Within this broader ecosystem, Tech Square at Georgia Tech remains a central engine bridging academia and industry. The district hosts more than 100 startups and 25 corporate innovation centers, linking academic discovery with commercialization. The university recently announced plans to convert the historic Biltmore building into the Biltmore Innovation Center, adding over 100,000 square feet of research and startup space.

The project will host Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X Headquarters, which has already launched more than 600 startups with a combined valuation above $2.4 billion and aims to help launch 1,000 new ventures each year. It will also include a Startup Scaling Platform, VentureLab, and Office of Technology Licensing, alongside a new venture investment hub designed to help student and faculty startups scale from prototype to market.

Innovation and investment climate

Georgia’s innovation economy remains among the Southeast’s most mature, channeling steady capital into fewer, stronger companies. Since 2018, the state has seen 3,236 total investments worth $17.7 billion.

After the post-pandemic surge of 2021-2022, Georgia’s venture activity has settled into a more selective but stable phase. According to the State of Startups in the Southeast 2025 report, total deal volume has slowed, yet overall investment levels remain steady as funding concentrates in larger, later-stage rounds. Industry analysts describe the shift as a sign of maturity, with capital flowing to companies demonstrating solid fundamentals and market traction. 

“Global innovators are increasingly drawn to Georgia as leading companies in technology and innovation want to be part of this thriving ecosystem,” Larry Williams, president and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia, told Focus:. “Our education systems, from K-12 to higher education and technical colleges, play a crucial role in developing the talent that fuels this growth.”

Investors and corporate partners are increasingly looking to Atlanta for early-stage opportunities that balance innovation with affordability. Local funds and accelerators are scaling alongside new entrants from national firms that see long-term potential in the Southeast. According to the Metro Atlanta Chamber, that inflow of venture activity is helping local startups access growth capital while staying rooted in the region’s ecosystem, which in turn supports job creation and commercialization. 

Information technology, including SaaS, continues to attract the most capital, followed by fintech and healthcare, which form the core of Georgia’s innovation economy. Local investors like Tech Square Ventures, BIP Ventures, and Atlanta Ventures, along with programs such as CREATE-X, Georgia State’s seed funds, and Google for Startups, keep early-stage activity moving and help anchor the state’s diverse startup market.

Want more? Read the Focus: Atlanta report.