TN group wins $441K DOE grant

In Tennessee, a genetic engineering research effort led by a University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture plant scientist is among 66 award-winning projects selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as potentially transformational in its field. The DOE award is for just over $441,000 for one year. On November 28, DOE announced this award and 65 others as the recipients of the department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) “OPEN 2012” program awards. The grants are designed to recognize transformational, breakthrough technologies that show fundamental technical promise but which are too early for private-sector investment. These projects have the potential to produce game-changing breakthroughs in energy technology, form the foundation for entirely new industries and have large commercial impacts.