The $5.4 million project is the first step in a partnership between Notre Dame and Purdue University to develop multiple hypersonic tunnels.

The University of Notre Dame’s impact on the region through its operational and capital investments; research spending; spending by students, visitors and event attendees; and increased wage premium earned by graduates is $2.46 billion annually.

Researchers at Notre Dame with counterparts in Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria are working to bridge the gap through a program called Energy E3 — Empowering Nations to Power Their Nation, with plans underway for an inaugural energy innovation center in...