The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute was founded in 2019 to address America’s need to stay globally competitive in R&D by preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers in data science and technology, advanced materials, outcomes-based applications, and other areas of rapid growth and national need.

To achieve its’ mission, the Innovation Institute is building upon a partnership between the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory that dates back to the Manhattan Project. The Innovation Institute represents a new way of thinking about the UT-ORNL relationship and provides the opportunity to bring people, infrastructure, and collaborative opportunities together in new ways to dramatically increase and accelerate the impact of this long-standing partnership. The Innovation Institute will align beacons of excellence, expand collaborative graduate programs, and offer unique opportunities for interdisciplinary problem-solving, teamwork, and rapid innovation.