Smokies.LIVE Business Center: Program continues to grow East Tennessee’s reputation as a hub for advanced energy, nuclear technology and innovation.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Business Center) — Seven innovative startups from across the United States and abroad have been selected for the 2026 Spark Accelerator, a program designed to help advanced energy and HardTech companies grow in East Tennessee.
Hosted at the University of Tennessee Research Park, the 12-week accelerator begins Aug. 24 and connects entrepreneurs with industry experts, investors, manufacturers and research partners throughout the region.
Since launching in 2022, the Spark Accelerator has supported more than 50 companies, helped participants raise more than $200 million in funding, and contributed to the creation of more than 200 jobs.
Organizers say East Tennessee’s unique combination of the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority makes the region one of the nation’s leading destinations for advanced energy innovation.
“Our region has the customers, technical experts, manufacturing partners and capital that HardTech companies need to succeed,” said Bill Malkes, executive director of the Spark Innovation Center. “Spark helps founders connect with those resources and accelerate commercialization.”
The 2026 cohort includes companies developing technologies in nuclear energy, hydrogen production, advanced materials, biotechnology and lithium processing.
Among the companies selected are:
- Nutrode Inc., a Knoxville startup founded by University of Tennessee professors developing advanced hydrogen production technology.
- Scaled Atomics, an Oak Ridge-based company designing a portable nuclear microreactor capable of operating for up to 10 years without refueling.
- PAN Biologics, a Knoxville biotechnology company commercializing Oak Ridge National Laboratory technology to advance cancer and infectious disease treatments.
Other participants include Canary Instruments (Maryland), Ecoatex (Georgia), Erasmus Energy (California) and Licube Inc. (Houston and Japan).
In addition, six entrepreneurs selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Innovation Crossroads fellowship will also participate in the accelerator.
The program is operated through a partnership between the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) and the Spark Innovation Center. Participants receive mentorship, business development coaching, investor connections, technical validation support and access to East Tennessee’s research and manufacturing ecosystem.
Officials say many previous participants have chosen to establish long-term operations in East Tennessee after completing the accelerator, further strengthening the region’s growing reputation as a national center for energy innovation and technology commercialization.
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