Business & Entrepreneur Partnerships | University at Buffalo

#UBuffalo researchers are tapping the incredible power of Empire AI. The $400 million statewide consortium — which Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last year, including its supercomputing center located at UB, a SUNY flagship with decades of leadership in AI and data science — aims to harness AI for the betterment of society and drive innovation in New York State. With the initial phase of?Empire AI?up and running, select UB researchers are employing the center’s powerful computers to develop technology that aims to ease the nation’s shortage of mental health professionals, improve medical imaging and assist people with motor neuron diseases like ALS, among other efforts. “At UB, we are committed to technological innovation for the betterment of society. These projects will ensure our researchers continue to break barriers in artificial intelligence that ultimately improve the quality of life of countless individuals while also creating economic opportunities in Buffalo and beyond,” says Venu Govindaraju, UB's vice president for research and economic development. The projects are among the first for Empire AI, which consists of fellow The State University of New York schools, the The City University of New York,, Columbia University, Cornell University, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Flatiron Institute and the Simons Foundation. Here’s a closer look at the first wave of UB projects made possible by Empire AI. ?? https://lnkd.in/dNZqaP5v ?? The supercomputing center of Empire AI, located at UB, will provide academic researchers in New York State with unprecedented computing power. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

$600K in STEP funding is still available to help New York State small businesses expand globally! Grants cover trade missions, export training, marketing, trade shows & more. Learn how ESD's Global NY division can support your business: https://lnkd.in/ejCtv9Qq

We’re thrilled to announce that Arbol will be participating in the Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator (Techstars), a program designed to propel cutting-edge startups tackling complex workforce problems. We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves alongside world-class innovators who are solving a new set of societal challenges. Most people know about the cost issues in higher ed. But they don’t realize that the industry’s dropout and retention issues stem from the extreme complexity students face as they try to balance college financial obligations with their cost-of-living needs. Arbol allows colleges and universities to deliver financial wellness at scale by engaging students at the very beginning of their journey, clarifying their situations and empowering them to take concrete, immediate steps toward financial viability. This creates tremendous operational efficiency for college staff, giving them proactive tools to address students with the most acute needs. And it surfaces strategic insight for campus decision-makers, who finally have data on the financial condition of student cohorts. Arbol debuted its flagship platform and personalized wellness plans in the spring 2024 semester and is now working with nine colleges, from major publics to small privates. Those institutions can look different in many ways, but they all share something in common: they've lacked financial technology tools that stick the landing with students. Until now.

Research is the foundation of innovation, driving impacts and advancements that benefit society. Last week, I attended the 50th Annual Meeting of AUTM, a milestone coinciding with a critical time for academic R&D and technology transfer. Joined by colleagues from across the country and the world, we reflected on the critical role of academic research in enabling innovation, from life-saving medical treatments and devices to energy solutions, next-generation materials, precision agriculture, and the AI-powered tools transforming daily life. I was also honored to participate in the AUTM on the Hill Day, advocating for the policies and funding that sustain scientific discovery and its transformation into real-world impacts. At a time when the future of federal research investment faces uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to ensure that innovation remains a national priority. Grateful to have stood alongside incredible colleagues, including Per Stromhaug, Alice Li, RK Narayanan PhD MBA CLP, Harl Tolbert, and Nidhi Sabharwal in these discussions, highlighting the pipeline of university discoveries that fuel economic growth, national security, and technological progress.