Our Partners – Southwire Spark
Our external partnerships - mission

Propeling Southwire and partners toward shared success

Southwire Spark™ leverages external knowledge, perspective, expertise, and creativity to empower innovation and promote sustainability.

Our Partners
our impact

Decarbonization of Manufacturing

Southwire has joined forces with British climate tech leader Levidian to bring their innovative decarbonization technology to North America for the first time. This collaboration will see the installation of Levidian’s LOOP technology at Southwire where it will capture carbon from methane to produce a hydrogen-rich blend gas. The teams will also be working on useful applications for hydrogen and graphene, which can be used as a high-quality additive to increase the performance of materials.

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Advocates for Sustainable Clean Energy

Southwire has partnered with Southface Institute. For nearly half a century, Southface has been advancing clean and affordable energy as well as access to a healthy environment. Gary Walia recently participated in an invited talk and panel discussion around Grid Resiliency. This panel explored how we can cultivate resilience at every level—from grassroots initiatives to large-scale programs, from local communities to grid systems, and within the very buildings we inhabit.

Developing Next Generation Talent

Southwire Spark™ has partnered with the industry fellowship program from the University of Georgia on various projects. This program brings together an interdisciplinary team that looks to solve a real-world problem and innovate solutions. This collaboration has led to multiple student groups being able to interact with Southwire team members, drive outcome-based projects that help propel Southwire into the future, and internship opportunities.

Our Partners

Opportunities & Events
Open Call: Emerging Grid Technologies

Due: February 21, 2026

Submit at: https://forms.office.com/r/AwSzenELSe

Southwire Spark is seeking bold ideas and breakthrough technologies that advance the future of energy. We invite innovators from industry, academia, and start-ups to share proposals for emerging solutions and proof-of-concept deployments in microgrids, intelligent energy systems, and advanced grid controls. Our focus is on technologies that strengthen grid resiliency, improve flexibility, and deliver meaningful impact to communities. If you’re developing a transformative energy solution, we’d love to hear from you. Submit your proposal through the form, and our technical team will be in touch. Let’s Spark the future—together!
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Open Call: Advanced Materials Innovation

Due: March 31, 2026

Submit at: https://forms.office.com/r/6uYNv3xQNF

Southwire Spark is launching an open call to identify and amplify breakthrough technologies in advanced materials. We’re inviting visionary partners—from start-ups and academic labs to national research centers and industry leaders—to share bold ideas that can reshape the future of energy, manufacturing, and sustainability.

Whether you’re pioneering circular economy solutions, developing next-gen composites, or unlocking new functionalities in smart materials, we want to hear from you. This initiative is more than a survey—it’s a gateway to collaboration, co-development, and impact. Together, we’ll explore pathways to scale, validate, and deploy innovations that matter.
Let’s build the future of materials—smarter, cleaner, and more resilient.

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Open Call: AI for Electrical Grid

Due: March 29, 2026

Submit at: https://forms.office.com/r/xhBfCtNx61

Southwire Spark is launching an open call to discover transformative applications of artificial intelligence across the electrical grid. We’re seeking insights and innovations from start-ups, academic researchers, national labs, and industry leaders who are reimagining how AI can enhance grid resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. From predictive maintenance and intelligent load balancing to autonomous fault detection and real-time optimization, AI is reshaping the future of energy systems. This initiative invites you to share your emerging technologies, research, or platforms that could accelerate the grid’s digital evolution.

Let’s unlock the full potential of AI—together—for a smarter, cleaner, and more adaptive energy future.

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Fall 2026 Capstone Project Submission

Due: May 15, 2026

Submit at: https://forms.office.com/r/MHzksRqds0

Use the link below to fill out our online submission form for capstone projects for fall 2026. While each project may not be selected for this semester, we will keep these submissions and review for upcoming semesters.

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Meet our Manager

Michael Powell

Manager of Technology Partnerships

Michael Powell is a results-driven leader that boasts an extensive track record of technology development and deployment. As the Manager of Technology Partnerships, he drives technology business strategy to ensure that Southwire stays at the forefront of technological innovation. Michael’s expertise lies in guiding innovative ideas from concept to commercialization with various technology partners in academia, industry, start-ups, national labs, and government agencies. He excels in identifying market needs, fostering creative solutions, and managing the complexities of scaling production. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering Technology and Business with a concentration in quality principles from Southern Polytechnic University. His dedication to excellence and continuous improvement has earned him recognition as a highly accomplished researcher, being named a finalist in the prestigious R&D 100 awards and holding over 32 granted patents.