(1) Foster economic growth by significantly increasing the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics doctoral students produced at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and other state universities;

(2) Accelerate the state's economic and workforce development efforts in the field of energy sciences and engineering;

(3) Support the continued development of clean energy technologies and jobs in Tennessee;

(4) Leverage for the purposes set forth herein the existing capabilities of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory;

(5) Elevate the status of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville as a top tier national research institution through expanded collaboration with the laboratory;

(6) Encourage and facilitate the development of an interdisciplinary program in energy science and engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville that shall provide students an opportunity to undertake transformative research activities;

(7) Promote and develop support for collaborative research and development by interdisciplinary teams of University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and other state university faculties and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in energy-related fields;

(8) Foster and promote research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that encourages entrepreneurial opportunities in Tennessee; and

(9) Expand the number of University of Tennessee, Knoxville graduate students conducting their graduate research and education at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory working with laboratory scientific staff and using the unique facilities of the laboratory.