The Spark Innovation Center Wins DOE Office of Technology Transitions EPIC Round 3 Phase 1

April 2, 2023 – KNOXVILLE, Tenn. We are delighted to announce that the Spark Innovation Center, located within the University of Tennessee Research Park, has been honored with the prestigious DOE’s OTT Energy Program Innovation Cluster Round 3 Phase 1 Award. This achievement signifies our advancement to Phase 2 this summer, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering … Read More

Travis Howerton Praises East Tennessee’s Tech Potential

Travis Howerton, Co-founder and chief executive officer of Regscale, spoke highly on the rising tech environment here in east Tennessee. In an opinion column for Knoxville News Sentinel, Howerton proudly boasts the potential of the well kept secret – citing not only the affordable living costs, but the regions technological powerhouses.

DOE Awards a Spark Company in Voucher Program

The Spark Innovation Center hosted the Department of Energy’s Office of Tenchnology Transitions yesterday in a Voucher Announcement and Roundtable discussion event! Thank you to Chief Commercialization Officer, Director, Office of Technology Transitions, Dr. Vanessa Z. Chan and her team for making it out to Knoxville for this event, to Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon for attending, and to the Tennessee … Read More

It’s a New Year for New Day Diagnostics

Embracing the dawn of 2024, New Day Diagnostics is at the forefront of a healthcare revolution. Following a strategic merger and a game-changing asset purchase agreement, the Knoxville-based powerhouse, led by CEO Eric Mayer, is set to redefine diagnostics, focusing on expanding its portfolio to include over-the-counter solutions for various ailments. With a $15 million funding round underway, a commitment … Read More

New UTK Chancellor’s Innovation Fund accepting proposals

Administered by the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED), the new fund is designed to raise awareness, promote innovation, and support entrepreneurship for UTK’s promising innovators. Faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) will be submitting proposals for the new Chancellor’s Innovation Fund (CIF) within the next two weeks. Administered by the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic … Read More

Six start-ups selected for Cohort 2 of Spark Cleantech Accelerator

The 12-week program kicks off August 21 and culminates with a Demo Day on November 15 as part of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council’s “Opportunities in Energy” annual event. The Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Park has announced the participants for the second cohort of the program that launched in 2022. The six start-ups represent a diverse group … Read More

NSF Director Panchanathan meets three Members of Congress at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for project kick-off, announces funding for UT’s advanced materials and manufacturing center

U.S. National Science Foundation Director Panchanathan traveled to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for the Tennessee Mobility Showcase on Monday, June 26. He joined Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) for the launch of the Technology Enabled Advanced Mobility (TEAM TN) project and to spotlight two awards.    TEAM is one of 44 teams to win the first-ever … Read More

UT Research Park Breaks Ground on Innovation South

Today, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, celebrated the groundbreaking of Innovation South, an 85,000-square-foot multi-use facility at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm. The facility will be the new expanded home of UT’s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF), the longtime vision of UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Uday Vaidya. “Innovation South demonstrates UT’s continued commitment to co-locate … Read More