Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) signed a new Master Research Agreement to extend their research partnership through 2028. Extending the agreement allows research to continue at the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville. During the past five years, the collaboration has produced 27 active research projects, 15 publications, and multiple pending patents. (AutoInformed: VW Patents High-Speed Wireless EV Charging System)
“Partnering with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for research has accelerated Volkswagen Group’s ability to bring practical innovations to our products,” said Chuhee Lee, vice president of mobility design and technology at Volkswagen Group Innovation Center California. “With this extension, we’ll be able to continue this invaluable research and bring more materials and power electronics solutions for more sustainable mobility. UTK has been an invaluable partner, bringing incredible research talent with an interest in the automotive industry and sustainability.”
Researchers at the Innovation Hub work as full-time employees of VWGoA, but share time with UTK to work on their PhD dissertations. Signing this new Master Research Agreement allows that research to advance and expand, and continues this program for PhD candidates.
In 2018, Volkswagen Group of America and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville signed the first five-year Master Research Agreement, with the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville opening two years later in January 2020. VWGoA and UTK have since expanded the project to include 10- new joint research projects and additional PhD fellowship and internship positions.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
VW, UTK Sign New Research Agreement
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) signed a new Master Research Agreement to extend their research partnership through 2028. Extending the agreement allows research to continue at the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville. During the past five years, the collaboration has produced 27 active research projects, 15 publications, and multiple pending patents. (AutoInformed: VW Patents High-Speed Wireless EV Charging System)
“Partnering with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for research has accelerated Volkswagen Group’s ability to bring practical innovations to our products,” said Chuhee Lee, vice president of mobility design and technology at Volkswagen Group Innovation Center California. “With this extension, we’ll be able to continue this invaluable research and bring more materials and power electronics solutions for more sustainable mobility. UTK has been an invaluable partner, bringing incredible research talent with an interest in the automotive industry and sustainability.”
Researchers at the Innovation Hub work as full-time employees of VWGoA, but share time with UTK to work on their PhD dissertations. Signing this new Master Research Agreement allows that research to advance and expand, and continues this program for PhD candidates.
In 2018, Volkswagen Group of America and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville signed the first five-year Master Research Agreement, with the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville opening two years later in January 2020. VWGoA and UTK have since expanded the project to include 10- new joint research projects and additional PhD fellowship and internship positions.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.