Auburn’s new $22M facility to be first step toward manufacturing research district

Auburn has officially broken ground on a new $22 million facility + announced the beginnings of a 45-acre advanced manufacturing research district.

A groundbreaking celebration was held this week, kicking off a community partnership that includes:

• Auburn Research and Technology Foundation
• City of Auburn
• Industrial Development Board
• Auburn University

The new lab will be dedicated to the university’s Radio Frequency Indentification (RFID) Lab and it’s scheduled to open by summer 2027.

“The new facility is a transformational space designed to meet the growing demands of RFID innovation, research and industry collaboration. As the technology landscape evolves, this expanded facility allows us to scale our work, simulate complex supply chain environments, and better support our partners by accelerating adoption.”

Justin Patton, executive director of the RFID Lab

Keep reading for more details on the lab + what’s still to come at the Auburn Research Park.

Auburn RFID Lab

The RFID Lab began operations at Auburn in 2014. Its work now includes more than 100 students and faculty along with more than 35 research and development sponsors.

For more than 20 years, the RFID Lab has focused on advancing and implementing RFID and other emerging supply chain technologies in industry settings including:

• Retail
• Aviation
• Aerospace
• Manufacturing

“The lab has grown by a factor of five over the last five years, and as we expand our scope from RFID to include the many other sensor technologies that are used in the supply chain and advanced manufacturing, this new facility gives us the ability to scale up our operations alongside our industry partners to ensure that Auburn students define the future of how the global supply chain will operate.”

Justin Patton, executive director of the RFID Lab

Advanced Manufacturing Research District

The RFID Lab is the first of several facilities slated for The Park’s newly-formed advanced manufacturing research district.

This district is expected to create an environment where the public and private sector can collaborate on their R&D work with Auburn experts and students in a wide range of manufacturing technologies, prompting shared discovery and innovation.

These technologies include:

• Automation
• Robotics
• Artificial intelligence
• Digital engineering
• Lean manufacturing
• Advanced machining
• Additive manufacturing
• Mass timber production

Promoting economic growth through the reshoring of manufacturing and growth of knowledge-based jobs is a shared goal of Auburn University and the City of Auburn.

In 2024, Auburn University, the City of Auburn, the City’s IDB, and the ARTF formalized their collaboration with an agreement establishing framework and structure for their joint efforts.  The projects celebrated on April 28, 2026, are the direct result of this renewed commitment to partnership.

“The new RFID Laboratory within The Park is an exciting next step to further collaboration between students, business and industry in an environment that promotes innovation, research and workforce development. This facility is a direct result of the partnership between Auburn University and the City of Auburn and the collaboration between the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation and the City’s Industrial Development Board. The Industrial Development Board is providing construction management for the project as well as an avenue for a university bond issue for financing. I am pleased to celebrate the start of this endeavor and to seeing its future successes.”

Auburn Mayor Ron Anders