We’re putting world-class experts and public-private partnerships to work, advancing knowledge, expanding Tennessee’s economic capacity, and finding solutions that improve quality of life.
Image courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy
UT-Battelle Contract to Manage ORNL Extended Again
The University of Tennessee and Battelle Memorial Institute—through the UT-Battelle partnership—are now under contract to co-manage Oak Ridge National Laboratory through 2020. In March 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy extended the management contract with UT-Battelle for another five years. UT-Battelle first won the contract in April 2000, and its management has consistently earned top grades in the Department of Energy’s annual evaluations.
Photo by Michael Patrick / Knoxville News Sentinel
Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI)
A $259 million public-private partnership was announced by President Barack Obama in January, when this UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory-led venture was selected to join four other U.S. Department of Energy institutes backed by the White House in a push to accelerate the nation’s advanced manufacturing.
Image courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy
IACMI’s partners include the top five states for automotive employment and companies representing 70 percent of U.S. automotive manufacturing. Funding of $70 million from the U.S. Department of Energy and another $189 million from IACMI partners—including $15 million from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development—will support breakthroughs in manufacturing and materials.
16th Governor’s Chair Scientist Appointed
The University of Tennessee Governor’s Chairs program was introduced in 2006 in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and with a recurring investment from the state matched by ORNL to recruit top faculty researchers in science and technology to Tennessee. In 2015, the class of Governor’s Chairs welcomed Uday Vaidya, its 16th world-class expert aboard.
