Volkswagen Group of America and University of Tennessee, Knoxville accelerate research collaboration

May 24, 2023

• VWGoA and UT executed over 25 joint research projects within the past three years, will now expand with guest lecturers and additional UT student engagement programs
• VWGoA will increase company-wide Ph. D. fellowship and internship positions for students

Herndon, VA, and Knoxville, TN - Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) today announced plans to accelerate their research collaboration. Building on the program's initial success, both partners aim to kick off more than 10 new joint research projects through 2025, introduce more Ph. D. fellowship and internship positions with Volkswagen, establish dedicated guest lectures with Volkswagen senior experts, and create additional UT student engagement programs starting in October 2023.

VWGoA and UT formed their research collaboration in January 2020, together with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the largest U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory. The collaboration gave rise to Volkswagen's Innovation Hub on UT's Research Park at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville. This industry-leading technology unit is focused on advanced research in automotive lightweight structures, sustainable materials, and electric mobility, with interdisciplinary teams across Volkswagen researchers, UT faculty, doctoral and undergraduate students.

VWGoA and UT aim to expand their academic and applied automotive research collaboration. Beginning in October this year, VWGoA will increase its positions for Ph. D. fellowship candidates and UT student internships. During the fellowship, the Ph. D. students are seamlessly integrated in the company and share their time as Volkswagen employees while working on their dissertations. They can be located at the Innovation Hub Knoxville, Volkswagen's Engineering and Planning Center (EPC), or the Battery Engineering Lab (BEL) in Chattanooga.

VWGoA, the UT System, and UT Knoxville and UT Chattanooga are also working to develop a strategic roadmap for a comprehensive partnership involving expanding research, educational and internship opportunities in Knoxville and Chattanooga.

"We are leveraging the ingenuity and innovation of the Tennessee Valley," said Pablo Di Si, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "Through our great partnership with the University of Tennessee, we are driving Volkswagen's vision to build more sustainable transportation for all. Additionally, engaging with leading research institutions in Tennessee and across the United States also helps to source engineering talent for Volkswagen."

"The future of mobility is happening in Tennessee - and it's happening now. That's why we are grateful to partner with a global industry leader like Volkswagen to bring together the real-world experience of industry and the expertise of our state's flagship research institution," said UT Chancellor Donde Plowman. "Together we are developing the technologies that will transform the automotive industry and build the workforce of the future. We are excited about the new opportunities ahead."

Volkswagen Group of America (VWGoA) and University of Tennessee (UT), Knoxville accelerate research collaboration
From left to right:
Marc Gibson, UT, Associate Vice Chancellor Partnerships & Economic Development; Hendrik Mainka, VWGoA, Project Lead Sr, Innovation Hub Knoxville; Wolfgang Maluche, VWGoA, VP Engineering; Donde Plowman, UT, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Kevin Heaslip, UT, Director of the Center for Transportation Research; Pablo Di Si, VWGoA, President and CEO Volkswagen Group of America; Matthew Mench, UT, Dean, Tickle College of Engineering; Randy Boyd, UT, President of the University of Tennessee System; Chris Glover, President and CEO, Volkswagen Chattanooga Operations; Victoria Hirschberg, UT System, Assistant Vice President of Research, Outreach and Economic Development
(Courtesy the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Credits: Jessica Tezak)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG ("Volkswagen Group"), one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. VWGoA houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen. Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of VWGoA, operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while VW Credit, Inc., another wholly owned subsidiary of VWGoA, provides financial services. VWGoA's headquarters are in Herndon, Va. The company has approximately 6,000 employees in the United States, and sells its vehicles through a network of approximately 1,000 independent dealers.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee's flagship public research university, UT is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT's campus-home to around 33,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members-is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby.

"VW", "Volkswagen", all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.