
(Left to Right) Andin Faison of Partners Development; Deborah Crawford, vice chancellor for research; Matthew Mench, dean of the Tickle College of Engineering; Uday Vaidya, UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing; Donde Plowman, chancellor; Orlando Diaz of Partners Development; and Brett Malone, president and CEO of the Cherokee Farm Development Corporation during the Innovation South grand opening. Photo by Breven Walker/University of Tennessee.
Innovation South, a new multiuse facility in UT’s Research Park at Cherokee Farm, will be a hub of collaboration for UT faculty and students, industry and governmental partners, K–12 students, community and technical college students, and workers looking to advance their skills in their fields.
The 85,000-square-foot facility, developed and owned by Partners Development, is the new home of UT’s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility, IACMI–The Composites Institute, Cherokee Farm Development Corporation, New Day Diagnostics, Spark Innovation Center, Trimble, and the US Forest Service.
Faculty and students from UT’s Tickle College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, and Institute of Agriculture will all have a presence at Innovation South. What makes Innovation South unique is that all assets are threefold, allowing faculty and students to work on research and development, workforce development, and industry directives.
“Innovation South is a microcosm of the innovation ecosystem developing here in greater Knoxville,” said Deb Crawford, UT’s vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development. “Working with our private and public sector partners throughout the region, we are creating and supporting the growth of Tennessee companies and equipping Tennesseans of all ages with skills that lead to rewarding careers.”