The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) has announced two new grant recipients as part of the state’s growing investment in automotive and mobility innovation. Through its Transportation Network Growth Opportunity (TNGO) initiative, TNECD is awarding a combined $1 million to two collaborative teams focused on advancing research and development in the transportation sector.
These latest awards mark the third and fourth projects selected in the second round of TNGO funding. Ultimately, eight recipients will be chosen to share in the current round of grants, which are part of a larger $7.5 million initiative funded by the Tennessee General Assembly.
The first group to receive half a million in funding is Vanderbilt University and Motive. They are partnering to advance AI-powered safety research on Tennessee’s I-24 corridor, using Motive’s real-time data to prevent collisions and protect drivers across one of the state’s busiest freight routes.
“This project will combine large-scale vehicle data with infrastructure and traffic data, giving us a better understanding of crashes on our roads and allowing us to find new ways to proactively improve road safety in Tennessee,” said Will Barbour, a senior research scientist at Vanderbilt University.
The second group to receive half a million in funding is Tennessee State University and GEODIS. They are partnering to optimize freight routing by developing predictive models capable of reducing congestion and improving routing decisions.
TNGO positions Tennessee as a national leader in automotive and mobility R&D by tapping into a diverse mix of public and private sector resources. The program is designed to catalyze innovation and attract new investment in cutting-edge transportation technologies, helping to diversify and strengthen the state’s economy.
Governor Bill Lee emphasized the broader vision behind the initiative.
Tennessee is leading the nation as a beacon of opportunity and freedom, and now it’s time for our state to take the next step as a leader in research and innovation,” said Lee. “Today’s announcement highlights two teams who are thinking more boldly about modernizing transportation in Tennessee, and I look forward to seeing how their research will bring about greater opportunity for Tennesseans.”
The funded teams bring together students and faculty from Tennessee’s top research institutions. Their work will be done in partnership with industry experts, economic development professionals, and community stakeholders—all with the goal of developing solutions that meet real-world transportation challenges.
Tennessee, and specifically, Nashville, have the potential to become an epicenter for innovation, R&D and technology,” said TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter. “I’m proud to take part in announcing another $1 million in funding through TNGO today and believe the collaboration and research that results from these grant dollars will further prepare Tennessee to land the jobs of the future.”
As mobility technologies continue to reshape the global economy, Tennessee is betting on collaboration, research, and strategic investment to ensure it stays ahead of the curve.
