The University of Michigan and Argonne National Laboratory signed a memorandum of understanding on Nov. 21 that formalizes decades of collaboration between the two institutions.
The new five-year strategic partnership for research and innovation will promote cooperation in education and scientific research between U-M and the Illinois-based national laboratory.
Both institutions will work to advance joint research projects under the partnership. They also will facilitate researcher and student exchanges and organize symposia and conferences. Maritime engineering and shipbuilding is the initial focus, with U-M and Argonne researchers collaborating on energy systems, ship design, advanced manufacturing and supply chain work.
“By combining Argonne’s strengths in computing, materials science and advanced energy technologies with Michigan’s leadership in artificial intelligence, robotics and data-driven engineering, we’re creating an innovation ecosystem that can tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges,” said Arthur Lupia, vice president for research and innovation.
“This MOU takes that history of productive collaboration and gives it new momentum. It creates space for our institutions to work in a more coordinated way and to pursue solutions equal to the scale of the problems we face.”
U-M researchers have worked alongside scientists at Argonne National Laboratory for years, collaborating across energy storage, advanced manufacturing and computational science.
One cornerstone of that relationship is the Energy Storage Research Alliance, a Department of Energy hub led by Argonne that brings together national laboratories and universities to push the boundaries of battery science. U-M researchers contribute expertise in materials engineering, electrochemistry and systems modeling to tackle fundamental questions about how batteries degrade, how to make them safer and how to build next-generation storage technologies that can power everything from electric vehicles to grid-scale renewable energy systems.
The collaboration also extends into workforce development through the Battery Workforce Challenge, a competitive program managed by Argonne that prepares engineering students for careers in battery technology.
Teams from universities across the country — including U-M — design and build advanced propulsion systems, working through real-world engineering problems under tight timelines and resource constraints. The challenge gives students hands-on experience with the kinds of technical and logistical challenges they’ll face in industry while connecting them directly to researchers and companies shaping the future of energy storage.
Together, these initiatives underscore how the U-M-Argonne partnership blends cutting-edge research with practical training, building both the technologies and the talent that will define the energy transition.
Other collaborations include connected and automated vehicle energy modeling, foundation models for battery materials discovery, digital twins for nuclear reactors and grid resilience research.
Scientists and engineers from both institutions deepened these connections over the past year through site visits and continued discussions. Those engagements revealed opportunities for continued collaboration and new opportunities in areas like energy storage, nuclear systems, materials, transportation, artificial intelligence and autonomous discovery.
“Today’s MOU signing between Argonne and U-M marks an exciting new chapter in our longstanding collaboration. Building on decades of joint successes in energy storage, nuclear energy, computing and materials research, we are now expanding our focus to the maritime sector,” said Paul Kearns, director of Argonne National Laboratory. “Our goal is to support a thriving domestic shipbuilding ecosystem, and strengthen our country’s national security.”
The partnership encompasses three main areas of collaboration. The first centers on discovery, uniting Argonne’s capabilities in computing, materials and advanced energy with U-M’s expertise in AI, robotics and mobility. The goal is to accelerate the journey from discovery to real-world application.
The maritime domain serves as the initial focal point. The University of Michigan’s top-ranked Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering program, combined with its new Great Lakes Maritime Initiative, positions the partnership to tackle critical challenges in ship design, manufacturing and supply chain optimization — work that directly supports national security and domestic shipbuilding revitalization.
The second area focuses on building a talent network. The partnership will link students, postdocs and researchers through shared appointments, internships and workshops. Joint fellowships and sabbaticals will enable two-way movement of people and ideas between the institutions.
The third area emphasizes regional impact. Together, U-M and Argonne aim to form the backbone of a regional innovation corridor. The partnership will work to amplify industry collaboration, strengthen supply chains and advance technology translation across the Midwest.
“What’s particularly exciting about this partnership is how it’s structured to be more than a series of individual projects,” said Monica Dus, director of U-M’s Office of National Laboratories. “By creating pathways for students and researchers to move between our institutions and by identifying shared priorities like maritime research, we’re building a foundation for sustained collaboration that can evolve as national needs evolve.”
The MOU does not create financial obligations for either party. Both institutions will identify points of contact to assess maritime-related opportunities. They will seek external funding from government and industry sources to support projects. The agreement remains valid for five years.
Argonne National Laboratory is located in Lemont, Illinois. It is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center operated by UChicago Argonne LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy. The laboratory conducts basic and applied research across multiple scientific disciplines.
