Tennessee launches statewide research exchange to drive commercialization
Launch Tennessee, in partnership with the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium, and Halo, has launched the Tennessee Innovation Exchange.
Tennessee is launching a new digital front door to its research ecosystem. The Tennessee Innovation Exchange (TNIX) is a unified platform that showcases the expertise and assets of participating universities and connects faculty with companies, investors, and innovation partners.
The initiative is led by Launch Tennessee in collaboration with the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC) and powered by Halo, an AI-powered matching tool that accelerates research and development.
“TNIX represents a major step forward in Tennessee’s innovation infrastructure,” said Lindsey Cox, CEO of LaunchTN. “By giving visibility to the incredible research happening across our universities, we’re strengthening the pipeline between discovery and real-world impact.”
Six universities are serving as founding members of TTAC and are featured in the initial TNIX rollout. They include the University of Memphis, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, Meharry Medical College, East Tennessee State University, and Tennessee State University.
“We’re thrilled to support LaunchTN’s vision of a connected, collaborative research ecosystem,” said Kevin Leland, CEO of Halo. “TNIX will make Tennessee one of the most accessible research networks in the country.”
TNIX directly addresses a gap highlighted in recent years by LaunchTN and economic development leaders, who have emphasized the need for stronger commercialization pathways and a more connected statewide network.
“With the creation of the Tennessee Innovation Exchange, Tennessee is strengthening how industry connects with the research capabilities of our universities,” said Nathan Buttrey, Senior Advisor to Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, Office of Innovation, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNEDC). “TNIX complements TNECD’s efforts, including the $25 million IRIS Grant Program, by helping companies identify the right academic partners and accelerating the movement of ideas from the lab to the marketplace, driving job growth statewide.”
The Tennessee Innovation Exchange (TNIX) aims to:
Eliminate discovery barriers: Create a single point of access for Tennessee’s distributed research assets
Accelerate collaboration: Reduce time and friction in connecting industry with academic expertise
Maximize state investment: Leverage Tennessee’s recent innovation investment by improving asset visibility
Drive economic impact: Facilitate partnerships that lead to technology transfer, startup formation, and industry growth
Enhance user experience: Provide an intuitive, modern platform that requires minimal training
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