Our Nashville Tech Studio leverages the expertise of Nashville’s universities, piloting and deploying tech-based solutions that address some of the largest, complex challenges facing Metro Nashville.
Piloting new technology at a small scale allows the city to test new ideas, remedy unexpected challenges, and build trust with communities before implementing solutions citywide.
The Alliance brings together innovators and city departments to identify civic challenges that could be solved through tech solutions.
Acting as a matchmaker, we connect city leaders with Nashville innovators to develop, test and scale tech-based solutions to improve city services.
Engage with the Tech Studio
Universities, companies and civic partners can engage with the Tech Studio to support innovation projects addressing Nashville’s most pressing challenges.
ACADEMICS
University Research
Partnerships
Middle Tennessee universities applying for a state, federal or foundation grant with a Metro department may request a letter of support.
INDUSTRY
Corporate Engagement Opportunities
Interested in supporting, connecting or engaging in a project? Start a conversation with the Tech Studio.
Current Tech Studio Projects
Advancing ten projects across the city of Nashville and Nashville’s strong academic partners, the Nashville Tech Studio seeks opportunities to address some of the city’s most challenging problems—from making our streets safer using LiDAR technologies to enhancing training for emergency dispatchers using simulation software—our teams are thinking of innovative ways to support the public good for all of Nashville.
The Studio’s inaugural grant connects Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Fire Department to optimize Fire Department resources using simulation software to better prepare emergency response and even predict future incidents. The Studio’s work will build from the learnings of existing partnerships between academia and Metro Nashville ensuring impactful future projects.
Nashville Tech Studio Model
Research & Development
Deploy university research expertise to study and develop solutions for urban challenges, regardless of commercial viability.
Pilot & Scale
Test and scale commercially viable urban innovation products to provide solutions for Nashville and beyond.
Request a Letter of Support
Middle Tennessee universities applying for a state, federal or foundation grant with a Metro department may request a letter of support from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County by following the steps below.
1. Submit your request in advance.
Contact Steve Lopez at steve.lopez@nashville.gov at least two weeks before your grant submission deadline to allow time for internal review and approval.
2. Use the subject line: “Tech Studio Letter of Support Request.”
3. Attach a draft letter of support.
Include a draft letter of support as a Word document. At a minimum, the draft should include:
- Name and address of the letter recipient
- Project name
- Project description
Example letters of support can be found through a web search, if needed.
4. Provide additional project details (if available).
Please include the following information to support review:
- Requester’s name, title, organization, email, and phone number
- Metro department
- Metro contact name, email, and phone number
- Sponsor name (state or federal agency, foundation, etc.)
- Grant title
- Solicitation number (if applicable)
- Website
- Project name
- Project summary
- Grant deadline
You will be notified within three business days if your request has been approved.
Corporate Engagement Opportunities
The Alliance welcomes partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders—including academia, industry, Metro Nashville, nonprofit providers and community-based organizations.
The Nashville Tech Studio recognizes the unique expertise that industry partners bring to civic innovation work. If you are interested in supporting, connecting or engaging in a project, we welcome the opportunity to start a conversation.
Currently, the Civic Tech Jam is designed to connect academia with Metro Nashville and build a pipeline of new research opportunities, but we are actively exploring ways to engage industry.
For more information, contact Becca Rosen at brosen@nashvilleinnovationalliance.org.
Current Metro-University Collaboration Examples
For nearly a decade, local universities have collaborated with Metro Nashville to design, implement and evaluate numerous use-inspired projects to address complex socio-technical challenges facing the city and region.
Examples include:
Public transportation
Emergency response optimization
Multimodal transport & pedestrian safety
Nashville Partnership for Educational Equity Research
The Nashville Tech Studio builds on the foundation of these collaborations by supporting additional pilot projects that align with the city’s needs.