News & Updates

Overview During the Tennessee Competitiveness Conversation, attendees heard from experts on a variety of topics—spanning advanced mobility; the future of energy supply, security, and innovation; the renaissance of advanced manufacturing, from R&D, to design, to production; and the growing talent challenges and opportunities facing Tennessee. This final panel tied together the two-day summit, examining the […]

Key Address Insights Bill Lee, Tennessee’s 50th Governor, made it clear that Tennessee is a success story because of its people. Tennessee has one of the fastest growing economies of any state and is an attractive destination for interstate migrants. A low tax burden and one of the lowest debts per capita of any state […]

Overview This leadership panel explored the complexities of Tennessee's talent landscape, emphasizing the necessity of skilled workforce development in maintaining competitiveness in a dynamic economic environment. The discussion provided valuable insights into creating a more agile and resilient workforce, not just for Tennessee but as a model for nationwide strategies. Moderated by Liliana Ramirez, Director […]

Overview While many people and organizations have the goal to assist economically distressed areas, especially rural ones, far fewer know how to do so. This talk explored how a range of stakeholders can work together to uplift rural communities—with understanding and empathy. Key Session Insights As the Founding Director of the Center for Rural Innovation […]

Overview Nuclear power, while becoming a significant part of the nation’s energy mix, has never supplied the plurality of the country’s electricity. Today, however, as the need for clean, abundant energy becomes sharper than ever, nuclear power is getting a second look. The potential for the nuclear energy is great. But, as this Tech Talk […]

Overview Perhaps no industry underpins the U.S. economy more critically than the energy sector. Keeping Tennessee, and the rest of the country, powered will be a crucial challenge, especially as demand surges and legacy fossil fuel plants phase out in favor of a lower-carbon energy mix. Led by Chad Holliday and consisting of participants across […]

Overview Chancellor Donde Plowman opened the second day of the inaugural "Competitiveness Conversations Across America" with a compelling vision for the future. Addressing a gathering ripe with potential collaborators, Plowman highlighted the significance of place in cultivating an innovation ecosystem. "Place makes a difference," she affirmed, emphasizing the transformative synergy of people and partnerships in […]

Overview United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) was introduced and welcomed by Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier at the Competitiveness Conversation Dinner. For his keynote address, the senator focused his remarks on how America and Tennessee can realize their economic potential by taking advantage of their distinctive competitive advantages and unleashing the competitive and entrepreneurial spirit.  […]

Overview The future of innovation will rely increasingly on integrated, multidisciplinary, and multidomain partnerships that span and connect research, development, and deployment of new technologies at scale. In this panel, leaders across academia, government, and business discuss how to build innovation ecosystems that support the technologies of today and the industries of the future. Key […]

Overview Dr. Kate Evans of Oak Ridge National Laboratory gave a crash course of quantum sciences—and potential impacts the domain may have on U.S. innovation and competitiveness. Key Session Insights Using quantum mechanics in computing can greatly increase the efficiency of computer processes. In traditional computing, to find the most efficient process, the computer must […]