Centers and Institutes that Promote Learning and Discovery
Through strategic partnerships, our centers and institutes provide the base for innovators to solve complex, interconnected issues to better the state and world.
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Partnership
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and Oak Ridge National Laboratory share a historic partnership that began during World War II and has since helped shape the Knoxville–Oak Ridge Innovation Valley. Since 2000, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ has co-managed ORNL through a 50-50 partnership between À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and responsible for managing and operating the largest science and energy lab in the system.
Collaborative research spans materials and manufacturing, nuclear science, neutron science, bioenergy, high-energy physics, AI, systems biology and national security. More than 80 researchers hold joint appointments between À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and ORNL, including À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ–ORNL Governor’s Chairs, which bring top global talent to Tennessee. Each year, hundreds of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ graduate students also conduct research alongside ORNL teams.
ORNL is home to several of the world’s most powerful supercomputers and leading neutron and nuclear research facilities, including the , the and the .
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute
The (À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ–ORII) was established in 2021 to align the research strengths, infrastructure and talent within the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System and ORNL. The institute supports world-class discovery, interdisciplinary graduate education and workforce development in high-demand fields critical to Tennessee and the nation.
A key part of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ–ORII’s approach is its , which focus collaborative investment in emerging areas where À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and ORNL have shared expertise, such as clean manufacturing, advanced materials, energy storage and transportation.
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Research Park at Cherokee Farm
The is a 150-acre innovation hub located across the Tennessee River from À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville. As a joint venture between À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ and ORNL, the park offers companies and entrepreneurs direct access to world-class researchers, advanced facilities and a dynamic talent pipeline.
Focusing on five key areas — advanced materials and manufacturing, future mobility, energy and environment, AI and human health — the park fosters public-private partnerships that drive research, commercialization and workforce development. Tenants benefit from proximity to , the facility and a vibrant ecosystem designed to accelerate discovery and economic growth.
Institute of Advanced Composites Manufacturing and Innovation
The (IACMI) is one of 17 Manufacturing USA institutes created to help revitalize U.S. manufacturing. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, IACMI connects innovators with the resources needed to advance and commercialize cutting-edge composite technologies while developing the skilled workforce to sustain them.
The institute is managed by , a not-for-profit established by the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Research Foundation, affirming À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s central role in its leadership and operations. IACMI is headquartered in the facility at the , co-locating with . This strategic move strengthens collaboration among faculty, students and industry, while supporting research, prototyping and workforce training in a shared, state-of-the-art space.
Centers of Excellence
was established in 1984 to elevate the state’s national and international research competitiveness. Through competitive proposals and ongoing state investment, these centers position the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System as a leader in complex, interdisciplinary research. Centers focus on areas of strategic importance to the state while fostering collaboration systemwide.
