Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development received the 2025 State and Local Economic Development Award from the Federal Laboratory Consortium for their "Fossil Fuels to Fusion Energy" initiative. The award recognizes their joint efforts to support fusion energy development in Tennessee, according to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Type One Energy were recognized at the Federal Laboratory Consortium awards for their plan to turn the former Bull Run Fossil Plant into the site for Infinity One, a stellarator fusion prototype. The project, supported by a 2023 agreement, is expected to create over 300 jobs and bring a $200 million investment to East Tennessee. “Bringing new technology into the marketplace is an important part of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s mission,” said Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Stephen Streiffer. Oak Ridge National Laboratory also received recognition for five other projects, including the development of a new cast alumina-forming stainless-steel alloy. Funded by Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, the alloy is designed to reduce energy use and emissions in industries like steel, petrochemicals, aerospace, and defense by maintaining strength at high temperatures.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory received the 2025 Technology Transfer Innovation Award for its Safari Program, titled “Empowering Researchers, Engaging Entrepreneurs: ORNL's Safari Program Drives Innovation.” The program provides researchers with training in marketing and communication to support the transfer of scientific developments to commercial applications. It is led by Jennifer Caldwell and Susan Ochs of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Angelique Adams of Angelique Adams Media Solutions. Oak Ridge National Laboratory also received recognition for its collaborations with Gevo on synthetic aviation fuel, with Flexcon on a self-healing barrier film for energy-efficient buildings, and for its role in the Accelerating Therapeutics for Opportunities in Medicine consortium, which uses artificial intelligence to support drug discovery. These awards mark Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s 87 recognition from the Federal Laboratory Consortium.
