ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that
IBM (NYSE: IBM), a long-time anchor
tenant at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute campus in Albany, plans to invest over $2 billion to grow its high-tech footprint at the
campus and throughout New York
State. This includes the establishment of an "AI Hardware
Center" at SUNY Poly for artificial intelligence-focused computer
chip research, development, prototyping, testing and simulation.
Once established, the AI Hardware Center will be the nucleus of a
new ecosystem of research and commercial partners, and further
solidify the Capital Region's position as "Tech Valley" - a global
hub for innovative research and
development.
"New York has always been at
the forefront of emerging industries, and this private sector
investment to create a hub for artificial intelligence research
will attract world-class minds and drive economic growth in the
region," Governor Cuomo said. "Artificial intelligence has
the potential to transform how we live and how businesses operate,
and this partnership with IBM will help ensure New York continues to be on the cutting edge developing innovative
technologies."
"This investment by IBM will continue to grow New York's high-tech industry in the Capital
Region and across the state," said Lieutenant Governor
Kathy Hochul. "The artificial
intelligence hardware center will expand research and partnerships
at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and ensure Tech Valley attracts
innovative business and development that drives economic
development in the region."
IBM's expected $2 billion
investment will be made at SUNY Poly and other IBM facilities in
New York State. IBM plans to
provide at least $30 million in cash
and in-kind contributions for artificial intelligence research
across the SUNY system, with
SUNY matching up to $25 million for a combined total of $55 million. Empire State Development will
provide a $300 million capital grant
over five years, to the Research Foundation for SUNY to purchase, own and install tools necessary
to support the AI Hardware Center.
IBM also plans to expand and extend its partnership with SUNY
Poly for the Center for Semiconductor Research (CSR), which is set
to expire at the end of 2021, through at least 2023, with an option
to extend the CSR for an additional five years through
2028.
The AI Hardware Center will attract new AI industry companies
and federal research to the state, while fostering economic
development and working to create several hundred new jobs and
retain hundreds of other existing jobs at the SUNY Poly campus and
at IBM's and its collaborators' facilities.
Mukesh Khare, Vice President,
Semiconductor and AI Hardware, IBM Research said, "AI will
transform the world in dramatic ways in the coming years. IBM is
pushing the boundaries of AI faster - for the benefit of industry
and society. By expanding our partnership with New York State, we are creating a global hub
of AI hardware research with an ecosystem to innovate, incubate,
and lead in the development of disruptive technologies."
Steve Ghanayem, Senior Vice
President of New Markets and Alliances at Applied Materials
said, "We are excited to expand our long-time technology
partnership with IBM as a member of the new AI Hardware Center.
Achieving the levels of computing performance and efficiency needed
in the AI era requires innovation in chipmaking materials and
methods. Applied is focused on using our expertise in materials
engineering to help the industry accelerate development of advanced
technology."
New York State research
facilities have been at the center of significant technological
advancements and breakthroughs, from developing the machinery and
equipment for next-generation wafers to inventing some of the
smallest and most advanced computer chips in the world.
Over the past two decades, the State has partnered with leaders
in industry and academia to establish the infrastructure, workforce
and ecosystem necessary for high-technology companies to thrive in
the Capital Region and Upstate New York. The results have been
significant, generating billions of dollars in economic activity
and, according to a 2018 report by Georgetown
University, more than 60,000 total direct, indirect,
induced, and construction jobs in the region are attributable to
nanotechnology. These efforts have transformed the region into Tech
Valley - a global hub for nanotechnology and semiconductor R&D
and manufacturing.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner
Howard Zemsky said,
"Establishing the AI Hardware Center will solidify New York State's position at the forefront of
artificial intelligence, one of the world's fastest-growing and
most socially transformative technologies which is driving
unprecedented opportunities within the high-tech sector. By
investing in the infrastructure necessary to support innovation,
this partnership between New York
State and IBM will add to SUNY Poly's remarkable record of
industry-leading research, and continue to attract thousands of
jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity across the
Capital Region and New York
State."
SUNY Chancellor Kristina M.
Johnson said, "Under the Governor's
leadership, our partnership with businesses continues to foster
research breakthroughs and economic growth while working to combat
everything from diseases and cancer, to mitigating climate change.
We continue to offer a world-class education in innovative fields,
and artificial intelligence is just one example of how SUNY is investing in new tech clusters to prepare
our students for the good-paying jobs of tomorrow. We are
proud to collaborate for this transformational work at SUNY
Poly."
In support of the project, New York
State will partner with neighboring Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). The AI
Hardware Center is also expected to recruit and collaborate with a
growing number of other high-tech companies, with initial partners
including Applied Materials, Samsung and Tokyo Electron Limited
(TEL).
This research partnership between New
York State and IBM is part of the recently-announced New
York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology
Engineering and Science (NY CREATES). NY CREATES represents a new
partnership between ESD and SUNY to
lead industry-oriented R&D and economic development projects
that grow the state's high-tech economy. In addition to advancing
new projects with an expanded roster of industry and university
partners, NY CREATES will streamline the management of SUNY Poly's
former economic development portfolio while continuing to ensure
that State supported high-tech projects will operate more
effectively and with transparency, integrity and
accountability.
Dr. Douglas Grose, Future
President of NY CREATES said, "We are proud to promote
New York State's leadership in the
high-tech sector through this new and enhanced partnership with
IBM. This initiative will drive significant investments and job
creation that will benefit the local, regional, and state economy
while laying the groundwork for important artificial
intelligence-focused research, development, and commercialization,
supporting continued collaborative opportunities within this
fast-growing field."
SUNY Polytechnic Institute Interim President Grace Wang said, "We look
forward to even greater collaboration with IBM and other partners
in artificial intelligence research, providing opportunities for
our faculty and researchers, as well as hands-on educational
opportunities for our students. SUNY Poly is thrilled to play a
critical role in attracting leading-edge innovation-focused
economic engagement activities such as the Artificial Intelligence
Hardware Center, in addition to training the next-generation
workforce to maintain New York and
the United States' dominance in
this strategically important technological area."
John Kolb, Vice President for
Information Services and Technology and Chief Information Officer
at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
said, "Our partnership with New
York State builds on the deep expertise Rensselaer has in
artificial intelligence, data analytics, and computation. The work
we do together will keep New York
in the forefront of next generation computing."
Senator Neil D. Breslin
said, "SUNY Poly has been at the forefront of numerous
technological breakthroughs and has been a continuous economic
driver here in the Capital Region. Aligning SUNY Poly's vision with
industry leaders and academic institutions like RPI, the creation
of this new AI Hardware Center will ensure our region's position as
a global hub and leader in technological advancement."
Assembly Member Patricia Fahy said, "I applaud IBM's
investment in a new AI Hardware Center for SUNY Polytechnic
Institute, a key driver of economic development and growth in our
region. As Chair of the NYS Assembly's Commission on Science &
Technology, I'm excited by the research potential of this new
center. Automated systems will play a crucial role in workforce
development and combating climate change in the near future. I
thank the Governor for his support - this investment will spur even
greater job growth and further our region's desire to be the
nation's Second Tech Valley."
Assembly Member John T. McDonald III said, "The
Capital Region is home to scientific innovation and research making
it a logical choice for the AI Hardware Center. I am confident that
this investment will build upon investments in the past and will
lead to even greater growth in the Capital Region."
Albany County Executive Daniel P.
McCoy said, "Today's announcement shows that right here
in Albany County, we are leading
the way in high-tech. I commend Governor Cuomo for his continued
investment and leadership in creating rewarding partnerships with
industry leaders like this one with IBM."
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, "IBM's
groundbreaking investment affirms SUNY Poly's status as one of the
country's premier research and development institutions, and the
new AI Hardware Center is a welcome addition to Albany's growing technology sector. I'd like
to thank Governor Cuomo and the talented and dedicated teams at
Empire State Development and SUNY Poly for their continued
commitment to New York's 'Tech
Valley.'"
Contact:
Press Office of Governor Andrew M.
Cuomo
Press.Office@exec.ny.gov
Albany: (518) 474-8418
New York City: (212) 681-4640
Angela Sullivan
IBM Research Communications
a1lee@us.ibm.com
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