Duracell Powering Up in Midtown

It always starts with the smoke detector. One lonely chirp at 2 a.m., then another. You drag yourself out of bed, climb a chair, swap the battery—and probably don’t think twice about where that battery came from.

But maybe you should. Duracell just announced it’s moving its global research and development headquarters to Georgia Tech’s Science Square. Which means by 2026, the brains behind battery innovation will be humming in our own backyard.

Duracell’s Comin’ Down to Georgia

This isn’t some satellite office with a receptionist and a mini fridge. They’re building a serious research hub with state-of-the-art labs, collaborative workspaces, and the tech muscle to power everything from your kid’s robot kit to your storm-ready flashlight.

Here’s what’s landing in Atlanta:

• 110 new jobs with salaries averaging $120,000
• $56 million investment into our economy
• A surge of high-skill career opportunities for Georgia’s growing tech workforce

It’s a big jolt for our innovation scene, and a major vote of confidence in what Georgia has to offer.

Plugging Into Peach State Power

Duracell didn’t roll in blind. They’ve had roots here for decades, with a manufacturing plant in LaGrange since 1980 and a distribution center in Fairburn since 2000. Now they’re plugging directly into Georgia Tech’s talent pipeline, pro-business climate, and logistics network.

And our state is already amping up with energy innovation. With electric vehicle investments from Rivian and Hyundai and solar tech from Qcells, we’ve got momentum, and Duracell’s move is only raising the bar.

What’s the Deal with Science Square?

It’s an 18-acre innovation district designed to bring researchers, startups, and global companies under one very tech-savvy roof. Located next to Georgia Tech’s Midtown campus, Science Square is wired to serve as a launchpad for new discoveries (and new hires).

For Duracell, they get direct access to a pipeline of bright, motivated students and pioneering research without leaving the zip code. For Georgia Tech grads, it’s one more reason to stay local.  There’s a real shot at a high-paying “grown-up” job—maybe even right out of college! And for Georgia Tech parents? Your kid might reconsider bolting to Silicon Valley the second they toss that cap

Think of it as a smart-tech farm: employers get talent, students get opportunities, and Georgia gets another win.

Final Charge

Duracell planting roots at Science Square means more than press releases and ribbon cuttings. It’s new jobs, new labs, and a big nod to Georgia’s growing status as a serious player in high-tech manufacturing. The extra plus? Your smoke detector batteries will come with a little extra local pride.

Want to see who else is powering things up around here? Browse www.gbj.com/manufacturing to meet more of Georgia’s makers!