CNS and UTK collaborate to develop a National Security Prototype Center
The new facility will join the Emergency Response Training Facility and the under‑construction Oak Ridge Institute for Global Nuclear Security on the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center campus.
Officials with Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), which manages and operates the Y‑12 National Security Complex (Y‑12) for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), signed an agreement during the final day of the Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit on Friday to collaborate on initiatives that enhance national security.
As part of that collaboration, the partners will develop a National Security Prototype Center (NSPC) in Oak Ridge to solve complex manufacturing problems. The new NSPC facility will join the Emergency Response Training Facility and the under‑construction Oak Ridge Institute for Global Nuclear Security on the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) campus.
“The National Security Prototype Center will turn innovative ideas into qualified prototypes that will provide solutions for the nuclear deterrence, national security, and nuclear energy sectors,” said CNS President and Chief Executive Officer Rich Tighe. “Y‑12’s demonstrated experience in high-precision, classified manufacturing and UTK’s expertise in next-generation materials and manufacturing are a perfect fit to advance national and energy security imperatives.”
UTK Chancellor Donde Plowman agreed, noting that the institution “is well positioned to contribute a unique set of research strengths and capabilities to the center, including advanced materials, manufacturing, nuclear energy and security, and AI (artificial intelligence) to name a few. This partnership with Y‑12 is one of many we have with the nation’s premier manufacturer of nuclear material for national security. As Tennessee’s flagship, research‑intensive institution, our commitment to supporting and advancing national security though partnerships like this will greatly benefit our region and the nation.”
This agreement will allow Y‑12 and UTK to collaborate on the following initiatives:
- Establishing the NSPC to solve complex manufacturing problems by transforming innovative ideas into qualified prototypes that yield solutions for nuclear deterrence, national security, and nuclear energy.
- Recruiting a Distinguished Chair for National Security Manufacturing to lead the NSPC program and implement effective collaborations. The distinguished chair will hold a joint appointment at UTK and Y‑12.
- Creating shared facilities to advance NSPC objectives. The parties will create shared facilities to house the collaborative NSPC programs supported by the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy.
- Leveraging emerging technologies, such as digital twins and extended reality, for high‑consequence industries. The partners intend to play a national leadership role in the development and deployment of these technologies in high‑consequence environments, such as nuclear material and energy production and emergency response.
- Delivering hands‑on education and training programs for the nation’s future‑ready nuclear energy, security, and national defense workforce. These programs will include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), skilled technical workers, and will be flexible and responsive to employer needs.
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