Photo by Angela Foster
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been awarded a $1.33 million planning grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a blueprint for a QuantumGrid Innovation Hub in Chattanooga, a collaborative testbed where researchers, utilities, startups and industry partners will develop cybersecurity solutions for the nation’s power grid.
The award, officially titled “Planning Grant: Advanced Cybersecurity for Power Distribution Infrastructure,” comes through NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). It runs from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026.
Dr. Mina Sartipi, executive director of the UTC Research Institute and founding director of the UTC Center for Urban Informatics and Progress, serves as principal investigator for the award grant. Co-principal investigators are Dr. Rick Mukherjee, director of the UTC Quantum Center and an associate professor of physics; Dr. Tian Li, UC Foundation assistant professor of physics and chief technology officer of the Quantum Center; Charlie Brock, CEO of the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative; and Patrick Swingle, manager of quantum systems for EPB.
“UTC’s selection for this award from NSF TIP is a significant achievement, as TIP is driving the science agency’s work at the intersection of national security and emerging technology,” U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said. “This investment shows Chattanooga’s quantum ecosystem is becoming an essential part of our nation’s defense industrial base. It’s exactly the support I’ve championed for the corridor from Chattanooga to Oak Ridge, strengthening our national security while fueling growth in our region. I appreciate the leadership of Chancellor Lori Bruce and Dr. Mina Sartipi, and I thank NSF TIP for recognizing the impact this work can have for both our country and our community.”
“This grant will support planning sessions, industry and startup engagement, and workforce training opportunities that connect our students directly to one of the most critical national priorities of our time: securing the infrastructure that powers our communities,” UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce said. “By leveraging EPB of Chattanooga’s highly advanced power grid and real-world quantum infrastructure in combination with UTC’s growing strengths in applied research, we are positioning our city—and our University—at the forefront of innovation in quantum technology and grid security.”
The planning grant addresses a national priority. The U.S. power grid is one of the most frequently targeted critical infrastructure sectors. As distribution systems modernize with two-way flows of energy and data, utilities face a wider attack surface and more sophisticated threats. Protecting the grid is essential because disruptions affect not only utilities but also public health, safety and the economy.
“What sets this project apart is the ecosystem we are building,” Sartipi said. “It’s not just about a test bed. It’s about bringing together infrastructure, workforce and talent development, research and business partnerships. That ecosystem approach is what makes Chattanooga the right place to lead this work.”
EPB of Chattanooga offers a unique foundation for this work. In addition to operating one of the most advanced and highly automated electric distribution grids in the U.S., the EPB Quantum Center is the first facility in the U.S. to offer commercial access to both a quantum computer and a quantum network, which includes a dedicated node for UTC. UTC brings faculty expertise in quantum science, cybersecurity and energy systems. The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative and CO.LAB connect technical work to entrepreneurship and industry needs.
“At EPB, every investment in technology starts with the goal of serving our customers better,” said Janet Rehberg, EPB President of Strategic Initiatives. “This project gives us the opportunity to work with UTC to advance new cybersecurity tools to help make our energy services even more reliable and resilient in the future for the people of Chattanooga while also contributing to our nation’s ability to secure the U.S. grid.”
Together, these assets allow researchers, startups and utilities to test new technologies under real-world conditions, ensuring solutions are practical and scalable.
“The QuantumGrid Innovation Hub is an opportunity to link regional strengths to national needs,” UTC Vice Chancellor for Research Reinhold Mann said. “By linking research to a real-world distribution grid and a commercially available quantum network, the hub is positioned to advance security practices that utilities can adopt. The project also supports economic development by attracting investment and building a workforce with targeted skills. Startups and established firms can gain access to a testing environment that generates feedback and evidence, reducing risk for both buyers and sellers of new technology.”
The Chattanooga team’s work will center on practical, interoperable approaches that utilities can adopt. Areas of focus include quantum-safe cryptography and communications, interoperable key management, hybrid quantum/classical detection methods and hardware considerations for substations and field devices. The goal is to test what works in real networks, identify priorities and set a clear path for pilot projects.
Over the 12-month planning period, the team will host stakeholder convenings to identify utility needs and technical requirements. Design sprints, reverse pitches and hackathons will bring startups and technologists into the process, creating prototypes that can be tested under realistic conditions. A test and evaluation framework will define how solutions are validated on EPB’s automated grid and quantum infrastructure, with close attention to reliability, latency, scalability and maintainability.
Sartipi said Li brings a critical perspective to the effort as the team examines technical needs in quantum networking and sensing.
“The project will focus on closing key gaps to make quantum technology practical for protecting the power grid,” Li said. “The project will develop rugged quantum hardware and standardized protocols, extend secure communication with next-generation quantum repeaters on quantum networks. It will also explore quantum networked sensing tools to spot grid anomalies early, closing critical gaps between proof-of-principle demonstrations and deployable solutions. These efforts aim to turn promising lab research into real-world solutions that strengthen the security and resilience of our nation’s energy systems.”
Another significant component of the project is preparing a talent pipeline. The blueprint will include apprenticeships, microcredentials and early-career fellowships in partnership with local colleges, workforce agencies and employers. These opportunities will prepare students and professionals for roles that combine quantum technology and grid cybersecurity.
The commercialization track will align with CO.LAB’s accelerator programs, helping startups refine products, meet compliance requirements and connect with utility buyers. By involving companies early, the project will ensure industry needs inform the research agenda and accelerate translation from concept to deployment.
“This planning grant gives us a chance to do what Chattanooga does best: bring together cross-sector partners to solve big challenges,” Brock said. “By uniting researchers, startups, utilities and educators, we’re laying the groundwork for a robust innovation ecosystem where quantum technologies can move from lab to market and where local talent can build careers at the forefront of energy and cybersecurity.”
At the conclusion of the award, UTC and its partners will deliver a detailed implementation plan for the QuantumGrid Innovation Hub. The plan will specify priority use cases, technical architecture, validation workflows, security practices, partner commitments and an initial set of pilot activities. It will also outline subawards and coordination structures needed for the next phase so work can begin without delay.
“The goal is not to have a test bed fully built at the end of one year. The goal is to know what we need, what gaps exist and how to bring the right partners together to build it,” Sartipi said. “By grounding the work in a real-world distribution grid and a commercially available quantum network, the QuantumGrid Innovation Hub will connect Chattanooga’s regional strengths to urgent national needs.”
The initiative reflects NSF TIP’s mission of translating emerging technologies into practical applications that serve national priorities, including national security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
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About the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute: Founded in 2023, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Institute bolsters UTC’s focus on building cross-disciplinary teams and catalyzing partnerships to establish enduring programs of excellence to address challenges that cannot be solved using a single-discipline approach. The institute is led by its executive director, Dr. Mina Sartipi, and currently consists of two centers: the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress, focused on transportation and mobility, and the Quantum Center, advancing Quantum Information Science and Engineering R&D, education and workforce development. Centers under UTCRI offer attractive educational opportunities for students across disciplines and professionals in the workforce. For more information, visit utc.edu/research/research-institute.
