Montgomery County, VA – Aclara Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX:ARA), recently reported that they have been selected by the US Department of Energy to receive federal funding through the Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI initiative.
Aclara will leverage its pilot plant at Virginia Tech to gather operational data that will then be combined with “advanced process simulation developed by Argonne National Laboratory.” With the collaboration, Aclara will develop an AI-powered virtual model of its rare earth processing system to help optimize production, respond to changing conditions, and improve efficiency.
In 2025, Aclara and Virginia Tech established a pilot plant at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Park to process heavy rare earth elements, a critical component in the powerful magnets that power electric vehicles, wind turbines, and a wide range of high-tech devices. As the partnership between the two develops and grows, it continues to highlight how Virginia’s New River Valley is a natural fit for companies focused on research and development.
Discover more about research and development opportunities in the NRV here.
Read Aclara’s press release here.
Read more about Virginia Tech’s role here. Watch a video about the plant here.
Image by Virginia Tech.
