EPB of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Vanderbilt University in December announced plans to establish the Institute for Quantum Innovation, further positioning Chattanooga -- and Tennessee -- as a national hub for advancing quantum science and technology.
The Institute for Quantum Innovation will be a center for research, innovation and graduate-level education in quantum and related fields.
Pending accrediting agency approval, Vanderbilt will establish an academic research and innovation campus in Chattanooga and locate faculty, staff and graduate students on-site.
This will enable continuous collaboration with EPB, support research, and help drive local job creation, startup formation, and broader economic development in Chattanooga and across Tennessee, EPB said.
“From cybersecurity to energy distribution to medicine and science of all kinds, the potential for quantum innovation to improve our lives is enormous,” Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “We are delighted to collaborate with EPB and thank the members of Tennessee’s congressional delegation and the state and federal officials who helped make this collaboration possible. We are grateful to the leaders, businesses and residents of the Chattanooga area who have supported EPB’s expansive vision.”
Designed to accelerate discoveries from research to the real world, the collaboration will drive advancements in energy, national security, health, insurance, logistics and critical infrastructure while preparing the workforce of the future, EPB said.
The institute brings together Vanderbilt University’s leading quantum nanophotonics and research and educational programs with collaborative access to the EPB Quantum CenterSM, the nation’s first facility to provide commercial access to both a trapped-ion quantum computer and a photonics-based local quantum network.
To meet rising demand for expertise in quantum and adjacent fields like AI and cybersecurity, Vanderbilt will develop and deliver graduate-level academic offerings that provide students hands-on experience with EPB’s quantum and energy infrastructure.
The university will also provide industry-integrated training programs that complement the institute’s research agenda and provide upskilling and credentialing in cooperation with regional entities. A faculty committee has been appointed to develop recommendations and provide input on the academic programming plans, which will require accrediting body approval.
“The Institute for Quantum Innovation will provide best-in-class learning and research opportunities for our students and faculty while putting Vanderbilt at the forefront of advancements to help shape computing and the problem-solving it makes possible in the coming decades,” Diermeier added.
The McKinsey Quantum Technology Monitor recently predicted quantum technologies will provide as much as $2 trillion in additional value to existing industries by 2035.
“Vanderbilt’s world-class research faculty and students at the innovation institute will pursue breakthroughs across quantum and nanophotonics for communication and sensing along with quantum information systems and AI for next-generation secure energy systems and more,” EPB said.
“This collaboration brings together Vanderbilt’s deep expertise in quantum research and graduate education with EPB’s unique quantum infrastructure to create an environment where world-class ideas can move quickly from the lab to real-world applications,” said Vicky Gregg, EPB Board Chair. “By working side by side at the EPB Quantum Center, we’re paving the way for innovations that can make energy services more secure, cost-effective and resilient for our customers. At the same time, we’re strengthening Chattanooga’s position as a place where cutting-edge technologies can drive new economic opportunity for our whole community.”
EPB’s proven infrastructure and innovation leadership make Chattanooga a uniquely strong platform for quantum advancement, the public power utility noted.
Since launching the nation’s leading community-wide fiber-optic network and the most advanced, automated power grid, EPB has fueled tech innovation and entrepreneurial growth across the city.
According to a peer-reviewed study, EPB’s quantum initiatives are expected to generate up to $1 billion in value for the local community between 2026 and 2035.
“Quantum has the potential to define Chattanooga’s economic future, and this collaboration with Vanderbilt University proves our city is a global leader in this emerging technology,” Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly said. “The quantum innovation campus will give our local businesses access to research expertise, talent and infrastructure while also attracting new employers and supercharging startups. I want to thank Vanderbilt, EPB, IonQ, the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative and all our critical partners for their hard work that led to this historic day.”
EPB is a nationally recognized energy and communications provider with a mission to enhance quality of life for the people it serves across its 600-square-mile service area.
Starting in 2010, EPB gained notice as a national model for building and utilizing its 100% fiber-to-the-home network to deliver cutting-edge services such as the world’s fastest community-wide internet, now with service up to 25 Gig, and the nation’s most advanced automated electric grid.
