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Media Contact:
Russell Ingram
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State Grant to Build Ultra High-Speed Research Link between Memphis and Oak Ridge
$3 Million Grant to be Used for Start-up Costs and Development
Memphis, Tennessee, February 15, 2010 -- The Memphis Coalition for Advanced Networking
(MCAN) and Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) announced the receipt of a $3 million
cost reimbursement grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community
Development to establish a statewide, ultra high-speed research computing network.
“MCAN creates an extremely robust channel for collaborations between Memphis researchers
and their peers at ORNL and across the United States,” says Dr. Clayton Naeve, St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital CIO and MCAN board chairman. “The new network will transfer
data at 10 gigabits per second, roughly 3,000 times faster than typical broadband internet
connectivity, allowing the transfer of the extremely large datasets necessary to perform
advanced computational research.”
"Tennessee has remarkable assets in the area of research, development, and innovation
spread across our state," said Matt Kisber, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic
and Community Development. "This high speed link connecting East and West Tennessee will
allow the kind of collaboration essential to the creation of new discoveries, new companies and
new jobs."
The project will be administered by MCAN, an independent, nonprofit corporation chartered to
promote and operate leading-edge communications technologies that support education,
research, public service, and economic development initiatives. MCAN founding members
include the University of Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital, and the Memphis Bioworks Foundation. Key corporate partners
include XO Communications and Cisco Systems.
Russell Ingram, president of MCAN, says the organization will strengthen the Memphis research
community’s contribution to future economic development in Tennessee. “In less than ten years,
first-generation broadband has profoundly changed our lives and the U.S. economy,” Ingram
said. “We can be certain that tomorrow’s technological breakthroughs will be developed at the
intersection of research, education, and industry. MCAN will ensure that Memphis and the State
of Tennessee compete on the leading edge of computing technology, enabling major
innovations in the biosciences and other strategic sectors.”
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The MCAN initiative will connect Memphis with other research communities nationwide over
Internet2 infrastructure. MCAN is developing additional regional connections with similar
research networks in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Doug Hurley, CIO of the University of Memphis, says MCAN connectivity will attract talent and
funds to Memphis institutions. “New research tools and the need to overcome geographical
constraints between researchers increasingly require advanced data sharing capabilities,” said
Hurley. “As technology shapes scientific research, those communities that possess nextgeneration networking enjoy a significant advantage in recruiting leading scientists and
attracting increased research funding.”
Funding for the project comes on the heels of recent passage of the “Complete College
Tennessee Act of 2010” higher education reform bill by the Tennessee Legislature which in part
funds an academic unit at UT Knoxville for interdisciplinary research in collaboration with ORNL.
Creation of the MCAN/ORNL network strengthens the capacity for Memphis research
institutions to maintain similarly productive collaborations.
“The new MCAN/ORNL infrastructure will ensure that West Tennessee has access to worldleading capabilities in East Tennessee,” says Dr. Thomas Zacharia, Deputy Director for Science
and Technology at Oak Ridge.
The “Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010” also recognizes the importance of the Memphis
Research Consortium in creating long-term economic development. In a memorandum of
understanding among Memphis Research Consortium institutions, MCAN was recognized as a
model for inter-institutional collaboration.
“The University of Memphis and its partners in the Memphis Research Consortium are proud to
host the leading-edge technology established by MCAN. MCAN represents a trend toward
meaningful collaboration across institutional and geographic boundaries,” said Dr. Shirley
Raines, President of the University of Memphis.
About the Memphis Coalition for Advanced Networking (MCAN)
The Memphis Coalition for Advanced Networking is a Tennessee non-profit corporation
established in 2009.
About Oak Ridge National Laboratories
UT-Battelle manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to create
higher skilled, better paying jobs for all Tennesseans. The department seeks to attract new
corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate
expansion and economic growth. To find out more, go to www.tn.gov/ecd.