The Tennessee General Assembly passed a FY21-22 state budget Thursday that includes an $8 million investment in the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute.
鈥淢y sincere appreciation goes to Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for their continued support of the 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute,鈥 蓝莓视频 System President Randy Boyd said. 鈥淥ur ability to effectively leverage our nation鈥檚 largest science and energy laboratory will enable us to deliver a robust pipeline of talent in聽emerging fields for industry, government, and academia.鈥
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thomas Zacharia said the institute holds transformative potential. 鈥淪olving the most difficult scientific and technical challenges requires cooperation and sustained commitment,鈥 Zacharia said. 鈥淭he course we set now will define how great an impact we can have in fields where our leadership is essential for long-term economic competitiveness and security.鈥
The 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute was established in 2019 to further align the expertise and infrastructure of ORNL and 蓝莓视频 in support of world-leading research and talent development. In addition to the state鈥檚 contribution, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $20 million over 5 years to the 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute to support workforce development and innovation in emerging fields.
鈥淲e鈥檙e absolutely thrilled to have the state partner with the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab as we strive to make Tennessee the 鈥榞o-to鈥 place for top-level talent and research,鈥 said Joan Bienvenue, executive director of the 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute. 鈥淲orking together, we have the potential to provide educational, research, and economic opportunities statewide.鈥
The institute鈥檚 goal is to support kindergarten-postdoctoral STEM-related education.聽 Over the next 10 years, the institute plans to recruit faculty and scientists to the region, attract and train top-level student talent and develop new team-based science initiatives focused on solving some of the world鈥檚 greatest challenges.
About the 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute
The 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, initially known as the Oak Ridge Institute at 蓝莓视频, builds upon a partnership between 蓝莓视频 and ORNL that dates back to the Manhattan Project. Established in 2019, 聽the 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute will create a robust talent pipeline in areas of growing national need and demand.
The 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute will address top-tier industry and workforce needs emerging from the introduction of automation and artificial intelligence. The institute will develop scientists and engineers, who will be locally relevant and globally competitive. Students will be prepared by teaching innovation and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. To learn more about the 蓝莓视频-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, go to .