The October webinar will focus on advanced energy resources, projects and programs in East Tennessee
This year, Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) has hosted two virtual Advanced Energy Virtual Business Roundtable for Middle and West Tennessee and one Statewide Energy Incentives Webinar. Now, TAEBC is hosting its final webinar focused on East Tennessee on Wednesday, October 13, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.
East Tennessee: Advanced Energy Virtual Business Roundtable
Like the last two events focused on West Tennessee and Middle Tennessee, TAEBC’s final webinar will bring together research institutions, business executives and higher education leaders to share their expertise and insight about how our state can create a collaborative network to drive economic development through the advanced energy (AE) sector.
At this event, six speakers will represent each of these three areas, including: Deborah Crawford, Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Tennessee; Jesse Smith, Manager, Industrial and Economic Development Partnerships, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Tom Rogers, President and CEO, UT Research Park; Flora Tydings, Chancellor, Tennessee Board of Regents; Claude Pressnell, President, Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association; Heath Jones, Managing Director, Hitachi Zosen Inova USA (HZIU); and Dustin Krause, Director of eMobility North America, Volkswagen of America.
Stakeholder #1: Research institutions
From the perspective of a science and technology national laboratory, Smith will speak about the value of ORNL’s Innovation Crossroads program, some of the organization’s notable public-and-private partnerships and how the private sector can engage with ORNL. Afterwards, Rogers will discuss Incubator opportunities at UTRP, along with developments about new research partnerships.
Stakeholder #2: Higher education
To speak from the perspective of higher education, Crawford will discuss UTK’s perspective on advanced energy and workforce development, such as nurturing new and established multidisciplinary communities of scholars and supporting and sustaining a strong culture of research integrity and workforce development. Additionally, Dr. Tydings and Dr. Pressnell will return for this third and final webinar. Tydings will discuss TBR’s current advanced energy focus and outline what a transition to support AE might look like. From TICUA, Pressnell will provide perspective on how private campuses are exploring and supporting AE as well as how private sector partners can collaborate for future opportunities.
Stakeholder #3: Private sector
Jones and Krause will round out the program by offering a private sector perspective on the advanced energy sector in Tennessee. Jones will speak about growth and workforce development successes and challenges for Hitachi Zosen Inova USA. Lastly, Krause will talk about Volkswagen’s Innovation Hub and the company’s goal to end combustion engine production.
An audience Q&A will follow speaker presentations. Want to attend the event? Register here.
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