Vanderbilt awarded $890,000 in inaugural TNGO Mobility and Automotive Discovery Grants

Vanderbilt University was awarded $890,000 from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development's inaugural Transportation Network Growth Opportunity Mobility and Automotive Discovery Grants.

The TNGO initiative connects statewide research assets, communities and talent designed to make Tennessee the top destination in the Southeast for automotive and mobility research and development investment. TNGO awarded $2.9 million in the first round of Mobility and Automotive Discovery Grants to further innovative solutions to some of the Volunteer State's most pressing mobility and transportation-related issues.

"The projects funded through TNECD's TNGO initiative demonstrate how we are applying advanced technologies, such as AI-driven software and mobile LiDAR systems, to create smarter, more efficient transportation networks," said Padma Raghavan, Vanderbilt vice provost for research and innovation and chief research officer. "These initiatives are paving the way for future breakthroughs, positioning Tennessee as a leader in mobility solutions and reinforcing Vanderbilt's role as a catalyst for innovative solutions for real-world problems."

Vanderbilt is involved in three of the projects, including serving as the lead institution on an award titled "Enabling Statewide Mobile LiDAR for Safe & Efficient Streets," led by Dan Work, who is a professor of civil and environmental engineering and computer science and the director of graduate studies in civil engineering. This project-in collaboration with city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University, Ouster Inc., Nashville Department of Transportation, Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga-will use advanced LiDAR sensors to address significant traffic-related fatalities and injuries in Clarksville.

Vanderbilt will also serve as a key partner in the "School Bus Route Artificial Intelligence Optimization and Safety Initiative" with the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, and the "Building and Designing Multimodal Transit System for Blue Oval City and Volkswagen" with the University of Memphis. Both projects, led by Abhishek Dubey, associate professor of computer science and electrical and computer engineering, will leverage the smartransit.ai platform to enhance operational efficiency and better plan for disruptions in public transportation services.

"Partnerships are essential to get research out of the lab and onto the streets-literally, in this case," said Cara Ince, director of research and innovation partnerships at Vanderbilt. "We look forward to working with our partners on these TNGO grants to bring real change to the lives of Tennesseans."

Gov. Bill Lee emphasized the significance of these investments and the importance of research conducted at universities like Vanderbilt. "Our state is fortunate to have a vast network of educational institutions that are training the next generation of workers," Lee said. "We want companies to know that Tennessee is not only a place for manufacturing, but a place that can support the entire mobility supply chain."

Four more projects, each targeting critical challenges in Tennessee's automotive and transportation sectors, were also funded. These projects were selected in a rigorous review process to ensure that they align with Tennessee's strengths and opportunities in mobility technology, TNECD officials said.

"By providing grants to ignite innovation and collaboration between Tennessee-based universities, companies and communities, we believe we will spur increased public-private partnerships in the future," said Braden Stover, TNECD's chief policy officer.

Vanderbilt is at the forefront of mobility research, and involvement in the TNGO initiative marks a significant step forward in establishing Tennessee as a leader in mobility innovation that will not only enhance public safety, but also contribute to economic growth and technological advancement across the state.