Under a public-private partnership, the State of New Jersey will develop a statewide supercomputer to expand artificial intelligence (AI) research, support workforce development, and increase access to advanced computing resources.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the partnership, which is supported by more than $125 million in funding, on Oct. 20 The New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative (NJSCI) will bring together eight research universities, the state’s community colleges, technology companies, and government agencies to create a shared computing resource for researchers, students, businesses, and entrepreneurs, according to an announcement from the governor’s office.
Funding for the project includes a $75 million personal donation from NVIDIA co-founder Chris Malachowsky and his wife, Melody Malachowsky, a $25 million investment from IT company SHI International, and $25 million in state funding appropriated through New Jersey’s fiscal year 2026 budget.
State officials expect the supercomputer to double the combined supercomputing capacity currently available across New Jersey’s research universities while significantly expanding access to advanced computing hardware.
“This major initiative will ensure that New Jersey strengthens its longstanding leadership in using new technologies to uncover scientific breakthroughs, to help our students build the skills and experience they need to compete for jobs in high-demand fields, to expand opportunities for our workforce, and to improve quality of life throughout our communities,” Sherrill said.
Beginning in 2027, NJSCI, an independent nonprofit organization, will administer the initiative under governance principles focused on transparency and equitable access.
The infrastructure will be hosted and operated by SHI International at its existing New Jersey facilities. The company will provide technical guidance on system architecture, design, integration, and implementation, according to the announcement.
The partnership includes Kean University, Montclair State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Rowan University, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, and Stevens Institute of Technology, along with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
Each institution plans to make annual contributions to the initiative’s operating budget, and additional higher education institutions will have opportunities to participate beginning in 2027.
Dozens of potential projects are already under review for supercomputer access next year, including research involving coastal flood modeling, early cancer detection and treatment, drug development, and the safety of large language models.
“Large-scale computing has become one of the real limits on what we can discover. Many good ideas, whether in a lab or a classroom, wait because the machine needed to test them is out of reach,” said John Pelesko, interim president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. “The New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative lowers that barrier for researchers and students across the state.”
Beyond research, the initiative will support AI education and workforce training through the state’s AI Higher Education and Workforce Collaborative.
The collaborative will work with colleges and universities to develop curricula, hands-on training programs, and apprenticeships in AI literacy, responsible AI use, data science, and advanced computing. Students will also gain experience using the supercomputer through research projects, coursework, and capstone programs.
“The apprenticeships and training programs tied to this initiative will help New Jersey workers develop the skills needed to succeed in AI, data science, and advanced computing fields where employers are actively hiring,” said Kevin D. Jarvis, acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Several state agencies are supporting the effort, including the New Jersey Innovation Authority, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
The initiative plans to bring new clean energy onto New Jersey’s electric grid to support the computing infrastructure. The governor’s announcement did not specify the amount of additional power required or the anticipated energy costs.
