Griffiss Institute, RIT announce partnership
ROME — Griffiss Institute (GI) and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) announced a new partnership to expand access to high-quality educational, training, research and entrepreneurial opportunities in Upstate New York.
The partnership will stimulate collaborative approaches to experiential learning, utility-inspired research translation, and technology commercialization in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML), quantum, cyber, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in Upstate New York.
Innovare Advancement Center is America’s first and only facility for convergent activities in AI/ML, cyber, quantum and UAS research, development, testing, evaluation and commercialization among academic, industry and defense partners in an open innovation environment.
The Innovare Alliance is a partnership of the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Oneida County, City of Rome, State University of New York, New York State Technology Enterprise Corporation, CNY Defense Alliance and Griffiss Institute. Together, the Innovare Alliance enhances the collective’s intellectual leadership in technical areas vital to national defense, and positions Upstate startups to grow strong and healthy with an ample supply of skilled talent.
This agreement makes RIT the eighth organization to join the Innovare Alliance as an ally since July 2021.
“RIT has demonstrated its commitment to driving outcomes that matter to our community at every level, from students to faculty, administration and leadership,” said Heather Hage, president and CEO of Griffiss Institute. “This agreement is an important step in continuing a powerful relationship between Upstate New York allies in research translation and commercialization in the interests of national security and economic competitiveness for our region, state and nation. We look forward to a very successful relationship.”
Research conducted through the collaboration provides and enhances potential advancements for the wider community through this MOU,” said Col. Fred Garcia, director of the AFRL Information Directorate, said.
“We rely on academia and students to help us advance exciting, high-risk/high-reward ideas in science and then apply them to more mature technology and advanced development that provide innovative capabilities for the future of our nation will promote,” Garcia said.
RIT President David C. Munson Jr. said RIT is proud to be the first private university to join the Innovare Alliance to better align the talent and expertise of RIT students, faculty and staff with fellow scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs at the Griffiss Institute and AFRL
“By working together, we will continue to address the nation’s greatest challenges, including national security, workforce development and economic competitiveness,” Munson said.
Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said the partnership with RIT will strengthen the nation’s ability to support national defense and to grow the local businesses that contribute to that security.
“It also furthers the mission of our Innovare Advancement Center to stimulate collaboration and innovation in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum, cyber and unmanned aerial systems throughout the Upstate New York region,” Picente said. “Our facilities at Griffiss International Airport in Rome continue to set the bar in these high-tech areas and establish Oneida County as a global hub.”
Mayor Jacqueline M. Izzo said, “The GI demonstrates once again the importance of the Innovare Advancement Center (IAC) to our region’s efforts to further education and research opportunities in the fields of quantum computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning. In collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), these areas of research and development will lead our nation into the next decade of technological growth, and we could not ask for a better partner to join this mission than the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIDE).”
She said, “GI and the IAC are well on their way to establishing long-term research relationships with the best and brightest, with RIT sharing its resources with this growing coalition.”
“Rochester Institute of Technology is recognized as one of the world’s top universities with a focus on creativity and innovation. Advanced degrees in artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, software engineering, and mobile computing, to name a few, exemplify RIT’s mission to lead research and education critical to our nation’s global power. As an Innovare Alliance ally, RIT will be an integral partner in the continued growth of our region’s rich high-tech ecosystem,” said Mary Carol Chruscicki, CNY Defense Alliance, Executive Director.
Kevin Owens, president of NYSTEC, said the Griffiss Institute and their partners continue to move everyone toward the future and “where we need to be as a region, state and nation.”
He said, “I am very pleased with the addition of RIT and know that their long-standing commitment to innovation and excellence will strengthen our capabilities to fulfill the GI’s mission to develop the next generation of STEM talent and defense technology that will serve the U.S. National will strengthen security and create economic opportunities for our region, state and nation.”
SUNY Polytechnic Institute College of Engineering Interim Dean Michael Carpenter said the school looks forward to continuing to engage in this growing collaborative research ecosystem that is pioneering innovations in artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber, quantum and power advanced communications, as well as workforce development opportunities that support the success of New York’s high-tech investments.
