Vivek Sujan, a distinguished R&D staff member in applied research for mobility systems at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been named ORNL Inventor of the Year, recognizing his extensive contributions to advanced mobility systems and energy technologies.
The annual honor celebrates innovators whose work translates scientific discovery into real-world impact. Sujan's career reflects that mission, with a portfolio spanning more than two decades of research and development in vehicle systems. His work has helped shape next-generation transportation technologies, from advanced powertrains to integrated energy systems designed to improve efficiency.
Sujan was recognized at Battelle's Celebration of Solvers in Columbus, Ohio, on May 7. The annual event recognizes inventors from Battelle and the national labs it manages, including Brookhaven National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the National Laboratory of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
"This recognition speaks to the depth and reach of Vivek's contributions across advanced mobility systems and energy technologies," said Robert Wagner, associate laboratory director for Energy Science and Technology at ORNL. "His work reflects ORNL's strength in turning discovery into application by developing solutions that strengthen U.S. competitiveness in a rapidly evolving transportation landscape."
At ORNL's National Transportation Research Center, Sujan leads efforts to address complex challenges across the transportation ecosystem, including infrastructure planning, vehicle architecture and real-time system optimization.
Prior to joining ORNL in 2021, Sujan spent nearly 18 years at Cummins, where he led advanced technology planning for power systems and played a key role in shaping the company's innovation strategy. His leadership helped advance fuel cell technologies, hybrid systems and autonomous vehicle architectures, influencing both research and commercial deployment.
A prolific inventor, Sujan holds more than 200 patents worldwide and has authored dozens of peer-reviewed publications spanning powertrain systems, automation and controls. His innovations have contributed to improved vehicle efficiency and smarter, more connected transportation systems.
Sujan's work exemplifies ORNL's commitment to tackling some of the nations' most pressing energy and mobility challenges. By bridging fundamental science with applied engineering, he continues to drive innovations that support a competitive transportation future.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science - Neil Gillette
