UT-Battelle sponsors a Center for Entrepreneurial Growth (CEG) program to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the East Tennessee region.  The impact these businesses have on the local economy is a key measure for the UT Battelle CEG Program, and critical to the Technology 2020 mission.  Small businesses form the backbone of the American economy and our way of life.  Technology companies often provide rapid and profitable growth, paying well above the state average employment wage.  The support of UT-Battelle has been instrumental by enabling Technology 2020 and the Centers for Entrepreneurial Growth to provide assistance to technology companies throughout the Tennessee Valley Corridor.

Tech 2020 tracks on an annual basis, metrics from each client company that include Payroll, jobs, revenue and fund raising.  These data are accumulated in aggregate and reported to the community.

The fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 was a very productive period for the companies in the UT-Battelle CEG program.  There were 5 new companies added to the program along with 9 companies that advanced through the program by accomplishing key milestones.  This brings the total number of companies created from ORNL technology to 89.  Specific details of company success stories are detailed in the Work Plan Element sections that follow in the report.  Given the milestones and validations accomplished by the companies in the program, the total payroll impact of the UT-Battelle CEG program is $44 million since the inception of the program in 2001.