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, use-inspired research translation, and technology commercialization in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML), quantum, cyber, and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in the Upstate New York legion

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 elevates the collective’s intellectual leadership in technical domains essential for 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 to continue a powerful relationship between Upstate New York allies in research translation and commercialization in the interest 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 offers and enhances potential advancements to the broader community through this MOU,” said Col. Fred Garcia, director of the AFRL Information Directorate.

“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 will promote innovative capabilities for the future of our nation,” 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

“Working collaboratively, we will continue to address the country’s greatest challenges including national security, workforce development, and economic competitiveness,” said Munson.

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said the partnership with RIT will strengthen the county’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 areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum, cyber, and uncrewed 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 is again proving the importance of the Innovare Advancement Center (IAC) to our region’s efforts to further education and research opportunities in the areas of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. In conjunction 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 (RIT).”

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’m immensely pleased with the addition of RIT and know that their longstanding commitment to innovation and excellence will strengthen our capabilities in realizing the GI’s mission to develop the next generation of STEM talent and defense technologies that will strengthen U.S. national security and create economic opportunity for our region, state, and nation.”

SUNY Polytechnic Institute Interim Dean of the College of Engineering Michael Carpenter said the school looks forward to continuing to engage with this growing collaborative research ecosystem which is driving pioneering innovations in the areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber, quantum, and advanced communications, as well as workforce development opportunities that underpin the success of New York’s high-tech investments.