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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.

Three scientists working on a large piece of research equipment.

UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Partnership

UT 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, UT has co-managed ORNL through a 50-50 partnership between UT 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 UT and ORNL, including UT–ORNL Governor’s Chairs, which bring top global talent to Tennessee. Each year, hundreds of UT 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 .

Aerial photograph of the ORNL factility.

UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute

The (UT–ORII) was established in 2021 to align the research strengths, infrastructure and talent within the UT 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 UT–ORII’s approach is its , which focus collaborative investment in emerging areas where UT and ORNL have shared expertise, such as clean manufacturing, advanced materials, energy storage and transportation.

Three scientists wearing lab and safety equipment work on a project using an isolation chamber.

UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm

The is a 150-acre innovation hub located across the Tennessee River from UT Knoxville. As a joint venture between UT 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.

Aerial image of UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm

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 UT Research Foundation, affirming UT’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.

IACMI's Sean Lee and Tessa Patton work on the composite liftgate created for Volkswagen in their lab at SERF (Science Engineering Research Facility) on the campus of UT Knoxville. December 11, 2019. Images by Sam Thomas

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 UT System as a leader in complex, interdisciplinary research. Centers focus on areas of strategic importance to the state while fostering collaboration systemwide.

Three men wearing lab coats work in a research laboratory on various pieces of equipment.

Centers and Institutes Making a Difference

  • 2,400
    manufacturing job commitments in TN

    is committed to serving workforce needs in Tennessee.

  • 1,132
    U.S. patents (since 2010)

    turns innovative discoveries into impactful commercial technologies.

  • $152M
    invested in UT Research Park

    is committed to offering state-of-the-art facilities and access to the expertise of the top scientists at UT.

Highlights from Our Research Centers and Institutes

  • Using the Frontier supercomputer at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, researchers have developed a new technique that predicts nuclear properties in record detail.

  • The UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute recently awarded six grants to UT faculty members leading research to advance UT-ORII’s circular bioeconomy systems and radiopharmaceutical therapies convergent research initiatives.

  • The UT Research Park and Spark Innovation Center take immense pride in the remarkable achievements of Holocene, a Knoxville-based cleantech company that has made headlines with its revolutionary work in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology and recent partnership with Google.

  • IACMI–The Composites Institute® has partnered with the Department of Defense’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, Pennsylvania State University, UT Knoxville and Jobs for the Future to address workforce shortages in the U.S. casting and forging industry through a national workforce initiative.

Continue Exploring

UT’s research centers and institutes fuel discovery, grow Tennessee’s economy and solve big challenges through world-class research and talent development. Continue exploring how our work is driving innovation and making an impact.