Rutgers Partnering in New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative to Drive Innovation, Solve Shared Statewide Challenges
Rutgers is partnering in a new state supercomputer initiative that will establish New Jersey as a hub for cutting-edge research to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, advance education and drive workforce development.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative today, supported by more than $125 million in public-private funding, at the Health + Life Science Exchange (HELIX) in New Brunswick, located next to Rutgers’ College Avenue campus.
“From Thomas Edison to Bell Labs and beyond, New Jersey has earned its reputation as the Innovation State through groundbreaking research and discoveries that transform lives,” Sherrill said.
The initiative brings together the state’s eight research universities and technology industry leaders to create a supercomputer that allows faculty and students to conduct advanced research on key challenges like cancer research and flood risk mapping, in a cost-effective, timely way that would be impossible with conventional computers.
“Responsible innovation changes lives, and this initiative puts that principle into practice,” said Rutgers President William F. Tate IV. “Access to advanced computing will allow Rutgers researchers and students to accelerate discoveries in health and life sciences, strengthen climate modeling and resilience planning, and prepare the next generation of the workforce.”
New Jersey native Christopher Malachowsky, who is co-founder of AI computer chipmaker NVIDIA, and his wife Melody provided a $75 million personal gift. Additionally, a $25 million investment comes from SHI International, a leading IT company based in Somerset County. SHI is working alongside the state and its university partners to provide the technical and strategic guidance needed to bring the initiative forward. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority is also investing $25 million.
Sherrill shared a few examples of Rutgers projects already made possible by advanced computing. Rutgers scientists are using high-performance computing to study how immune cells develop, paving the way for potential childhood leukemia treatments. They’re searching for patterns in massive telescope surveys that are too subtle for humans to pick up and finding a new star-forming cloud. And they’re leveraging AI to better understand the architecture of the spinal cord so doctors can better help those who have been paralyzed.
“This is life-saving, world-changing research,” she said. “And with the New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative, we'll get to do even more of it.’’
Dozens of projects are being reviewed for potential supercomputer use in 2027, including those that leverage high-performance computing and artificial intelligence capabilities to model flooding and protect coastal communities, detect and treat cancer and other diseases earlier, accelerate drug development and improve the safety of large language models.
Research is only a part of the initiative. It also includes the AI Higher Education and Workforce Collaborative, which is working across the state’s colleges and universities to strengthen education and workforce pathways.
This includes developing new curricula, hands-on training programs, and apprenticeship pathways ranging from AI literacy and responsible use to advanced computing, data science and related disciplines. Students will gain direct experience with cutting-edge computing infrastructure through their research projects, capstones and coursework, while developing skills that employers are actively seeking.
“All our institutions are making a bold commitment to lead the next era of technological advancement,” said Keena Arbuthnot, executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer.
Arbuthnot noted that one Rutgers team used high-performance computing to study the brain’s waste clearance system and identified a potential therapeutic approach that may help those with Alzheimer’s and children with neurological disorders. Another team, she said, used AI to create a digital twin of the state’s coastline to give more precise information to local planners.
“The projects represent just a glimpse of the enormous potential that exists across higher education in New Jersey,” Arbuthnot said.
Aside from Rutgers, New Jersey’s higher education research institutions involved in the initiative are: Kean University, Montclair State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Rowan University, Seton Hall University and Stevens Institute of Technology, as well as the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. As part of this partnership, each institution plans to provide annual contributions to the initiative’s budget. Pathways for additional higher education institutions from across the state to participate will be announced in 2027.
“New Jersey is where my story began, and it means a great deal to give back to the community that raised me. I am grateful to Governor Sherrill and our partners across the state for making this a reality,” Chris Malachowsky said. “Through the New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative, we can unlock the talent that exists all around us, transform schools, businesses and the workforce, and together, tackle our most pressing challenges.”
SHI International will host and operate the supercomputer infrastructure in its existing New Jersey facilities.
“New Jersey is positioned to show what's possible when government, higher education and industry come together around a shared goal,” said Thai Lee, president and CEO of SHI International. “SHI is proud to support an initiative that reflects the power of public-private partnership, bringing together the expertise and technology needed to help address real challenges facing our communities. By expanding access to advanced AI resources, this initiative is designed to give New Jersey the capacity to accelerate research, strengthen education and drive innovation."
To learn more about the New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative, visit NJSupercomputer.org
