Congratulations to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, the BRIDGES Engine team and all of the partners who helped secure this transformational National Science Foundation award!
The award of up to $160 million over the next 10 years will accelerate innovation, strengthen rural communities, create new opportunities for farmers and position Tennessee and Alabama as leaders in the circular bioeconomy.
We’re especially proud to see this achievement build on the momentum of the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute’s Circular Bioeconomy Convergent Research Initiative. In 2024, UT-ORII launched this joint five-year, $20 million initiative between UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to accelerate world-leading circular bioeconomy research and innovation in Tennessee.
Congratulations to our UT-ORII Circular Bioeconomy Convergent Research Initiative leaders, Nikki Labbé and Erin Webb, and the entire team for helping lay the foundation for this exciting milestone. We’re also excited to welcome Orlando Rojas, UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair for Circular Bioeconomy, whose internationally recognized expertise will further strengthen Tennessee’s leadership in this rapidly growing field.
Thank you to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development for its $10 million investment through the state’s Federal Innovation Grant Matching Fund. This strategic support underscores Tennessee’s commitment to advancing innovation, strengthening rural communities and accelerating economic growth through the circular bioeconomy.
Together, these investments in research, talent and partnerships are helping shape the future of the circular bioeconomy and creating lasting impact for our region. We look forward to seeing the impact BRIDGES will have across our state and beyond.
Read the story here – https://news.utk.edu/2026/07/14/ut-partners-win-up-to-160m-for-nsf-regional-innovation-engine-to-drive-rural-economic-development/
