Economic Development

Cultivating a Community of Innovation

ORNL’s Economic Development team connects local, state, and national partners to ORNL technologies and know-how, creating new companies, high-tech jobs, and strong communities.

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East Tennessee hosts a nuclear resurgence

ORNL is actively involved in promoting East Tennessee’s nuclear industry and consulting with nuclear businesses that move into the area.

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IRIS

Launched in 2025, the Innovation and Research for Industry Success (IRIS) grant program aims to lower the barrier for companies to pilot innovative technologies and pursue new discoveries within the state, while also demonstrating the strength of Tennessee’s research capabilities and fostering long-term corporate investment in the state’s innovation ecosystem.

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