Montgomery County, VA – Virginia Tech recently announced it is partnering with Canadian company Aclara Technologies to build a pilot plant at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg. The facility will process heavy rare earth elements which are essential for making powerful magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and many high-tech devices.
The pilot plant will combine Virginia Tech’s research and talent development with Aclara’s extraction and processing expertise of heavy rare earth elements. Materials from one of Aclara’s rare earth projects in South America will provide a sustainable supply for the Blacksburg facility, ensuring a reliable source of these valuable metals for U.S. technology and industry.
This partnership highlights how Virginia’s New River Valley is a thriving center for innovation, research, and clean technology. The new plant positions the region as a leader in the modern technology-driven economy.
Discover how the NRV is a natural fit for companies that are powered by research and innovation here.
Read Virginia Tech’s press release here.
Onward NRV: Onward NRV is a public/private, regional economic development organization whose mission is to attract and retain world class jobs, investment, and talent in Virginia’s New River Valley. It’s also a movement where leaders from business, government, and higher education work together to promote the economic vitality of the region.
