# ORNL Expands Chattanooga Commercialization Support

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Chattanooga-based The Company Lab (Co.Lab) signed a memorandum of understanding on July 8, 2026, to expand commercialization support for ORNL technologies and entrepreneurs working in quantum, energy, and transportation. The agreement creates potential collaboration and technology-licensing pathways, but it does not announce a solicitation, contract award, funding amount, or procurement timeline.

- Companies developing quantum, energy, or transportation technologies can assess whether ORNL research and Co.Lab commercialization support fit their development or market-entry plans.
- For procurement teams, the MOU signals a potential source of future commercial technologies and industry relationships, not a current contract opportunity or funded program.
- No application deadline or specific participation requirements are stated; organizations should not treat the announcement as an open solicitation.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Energy & Utilities
**Published:** October 07, 2026

### Government Entities
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

### Vendors
- The Company Lab (Co.Lab) (MOU commercialization partner)
- UT-Battelle (ORNL management contractor)

### Key Quotes
> By joining ORNL’s world-class research with The Company Lab’s leadership in entrepreneurship and innovation, we’re creating a pipeline from cutting-edge discoveries to real-world solutions.
> — Chuck Fleischmann, U.S. Representative

> The communities that lead are rarely those that just invent the technologies or invent the next breakthrough. They’re the ones that create an environment where innovators can access talent, infrastructure, capital, and those partnerships turn into thriving businesses together.
> — Shaun Gleason, Director of Partnerships at ORNL

### Sources
- [ORNL, Chattanooga startup accelerator partner to expand technology commercialization – Oak Ridge National Lab](https://www.ornl.gov/news/ornl-chattanooga-startup-accelerator-partner-expand-technology-commercialization/) - ORNL