The New Jersey AI Hub has been officially opened as a regional place for artificial intelligence (AI) startups to emerge and the advancement of AI innovation research.
Representatives of the hub’s founding partners – Princeton University, the state, Microsoft, and CoreWeave – gathered together to cut the ribbon on the new hub located in university space within West Windsor Township on March 27.
In December 2023, state officials and the university announced a partnership to create and develop an artificial intelligence hub in Central Jersey for the advancement and exploration of AI.
The new regional hub not only includes companies, industry leaders and startups, but other New Jersey education institutions such as Rutgers University and community colleges to further drive collaboration and research.
“Today we are here to celebrate the manifestation of that vision as it comes to life,” Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber said. “As we activate this space and launch the hub’s programming we look forward to ongoing collaboration with partners throughout the region.
“The hub has vast potential to advance research and development, accelerate innovation and strengthen AI education and workforce development. I’m especially pleased that the hubs activities will attract and leverage talent from New Jersey’s outstanding colleges and universities.”
The New Jersey AI Hub provides an extraordinary opportunity to advance the university’s teaching and research mission with the hub pursuing two of the university’s highest strategic priorities – advancing AI innovation research and cultivating a thriving regional ecosystem, Eisgruber explained.
With founding partners the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Princeton University, Microsoft, and CoreWeave expected to invest more than $72 million in the New Jersey AI Hub at 619 Alexander Road in West Windsor, there will be programming for research and development, commercializing and accelerating innovation, and the strengthening AI education and workforce development, according to the founders.
“This is an extraordinary moment for our state,” Gov. Phil Murphy said, adding that they could not be in business with any better partners. “We are the state of innovation.”
“Generative artificial intelligence is right in the crosshairs about who we think we are and who we can be. This has enormous potential for our state, particularly in Central Jersey.”
One focus of the hub is set to be on the use of artificial intelligence in industry sectors of the life sciences, infrastructure and logistics, clean energy and climate resilience, and telecommunications and cybersecurity.
Support services will be provided to startups including workspace, compute power, legal assistance, and business development advice as well as talent development promotion.
Microsoft, the multinational technology company, and CoreWeave, a New Jersey-based AI cloud computing company, joined as founding members in late January.
Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft, called the hub a visible manifestation of what was a great vision.
“I do think it is an extraordinary thing,” he said. It reflects the history of innovation in New Jersey. It reflects the contribution of Princeton University. It reflects (Microsoft)’s excitement in everything that will happen here.”
Microsoft is bringing its TechSpark program, which has been in 12 other locations across the country, to the hub.
The program was founded in 2017 and according to the company fosters inclusive economic opportunity, job creation, and innovation. Since the program’s establishment, 55,000 people have been skilled, 3,300 jobs have been created and more than $125 million in community funding has been secured.
“[It’s] a program that has done many things,” Smith said, noting one focus of the hub will be workforce development.
“I think what is exciting about this hub is that it is not only going to help I think a new generation of companies literally come to life, it is not only going to build on this great innovation and the academic research at places like Princeton and Rutgers, but I think it will create new opportunities for people across New Jersey.”
People would connect not only with the hub, but community colleges in this state to help advance post-secondary education and credentials across the New Jersey to help people acquire AI skills, Smith said, and then “connect them with jobs some of which will be born out of the companies that start here.”
Corey Sanders, senior vice president of strategy at CoreWeave, said the company is a proud founding member of the hub.
“New Jersey’s AI Hub will accelerate the career journey’s for so many promising stars in the state who are looking for that opportunity to develop their technical skills and build upon the technical innovative ideas,” he said.
“… collectively we in this room are letting them know they can do it right here in the state. They don’t need to go anywhere else to build those ideas.”
The founding partners of the New Jersey AI Hub cut the ribbon officially opening the artificial intelligence hub on March 27.
Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber (left) on March 27.
Gov. Phil Murphy (center) delivers his remarks at the hub’s opening at its location at 619 Alexander Road.
