The UT Research Park is pleased to share that the Spark Innovation Center Spark has partnered with the Tickle College of Engineering’s Center for Materials Processing to develop and grow the Spark Scholar intern program with excellent results. The new partnership with the Anderson Center will allow us to expand Spark Scholars and provide opportunities to a broader range of students..

This collaboration will provide more University of Tennessee, Knoxville, students with hands-on experience working alongside the technology startups at the Spark Innovation Center. Interns will contribute to areas like product development, marketing, and business development, gaining real-world skills in a fast-paced startup environment.

The program is mutually beneficial for both students and startups. The Anderson Center will offset 50% of intern wages, making it easier for growing companies to access skilled student talent and fresh perspectives.

This partnership underscores the UT Research Park’s commitment to fostering innovation by connecting Volunteer talent with the resources needed to make a real-world impact.

About the UT Research Park

Located across the Tennessee River from UT Knoxville, the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm is a 150-acre hub for research, innovation, and economic development. It hosts industry leaders, startups, and academic partnerships focused on advanced materials, energy, AI, mobility, and health. The park’s 365,000 sq. ft. of developed space supports 800+ employees and leverages proximity to UT’s $339M research ecosystem 

About the Spark Innovation Center

An initiative of the University of Tennessee Research Park at Cherokee Farm, the Spark Innovation Center leverages East Tennessee’s unique science and technology resources to help high-impact startups grow, succeed, and stay in the region. Founded in 2020 and headquartered on a 150-acre innovation campus, Spark drives commercialization in cleantech, advanced materials, and biomedical fields through three core programs: the Spark Cleantech Accelerator, a 12-week business acceleration initiative; the Spark Incubator, a two-year residency with subsidized lab space; and the Spark Scholars, a talent pipeline partnering with UT’s Center for Materials Processing to provide cost-shared interns for startups