Old Westbury, NY – NYIT will open a new Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center to foster innovation and promote collaboration among industry, the academic community, professional organizations, and government. The center, run by the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences, will be funded by a $400,000 New York State economic development grant.

The Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center (ETIC) will link NYIT talent and resources to businesses by encouraging applied research that is meant to boost the economy of Long Island and the surrounding area. To encourage collaboration, NYIT will develop three new laboratories at its Old Westbury, NY campus to explore research and business opportunities in the areas of health analytics and bioengineering, information technology and cyber security, and energy and green technologies.

"The center will create a pipeline of students, faculty, and employees from leading organizations working together toward the commercialization of ideas, software, and prototypes spanning many different fields," said Nada Marie Anid, Ph.D., dean of NYIT's School of Engineering and Computing Sciences.

NYIT's initiative was chosen as part of 66 projects to jump-start job creation on Long Island. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo awarded a total of $785 million statewide to support the efforts as part of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative to drive economic growth.

NYIT will help companies develop new products, research, and business ventures in the three critical areas represented by the new laboratories, while increasing the pool of qualified engineers and workers through hands-on experiences for students in applied sciences, technical skills, and entrepreneurship. The center also will serve as a training ground for entrepreneurs and start-up companies to test ideas. These measures are meant to address the demand for skilled workers in Long Island and the need for increased investments and innovation in the region.

The ETIC will offer opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations with companies and academic departments at NYIT, including architecture, health professions, management, and more. The center will increase NYIT's existing partnerships with businesses, government agencies, and venture capitalists.

To learn about the other projects funded by the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, visit http://www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/CFAAWARDSBooklet.pdf.

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About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 14,000 students attending campuses on Long Island and Manhattan, online, and at its global campuses. NYIT sponsors 11 NCAA Division II programs and one Division I team.

Led by President Edward Guiliano, NYIT is guided by its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, offer access to opportunity to all qualified students, and support applications-oriented research that benefits the larger world. To date, 89,000 graduates have received degrees from NYIT. For more information, visit nyit.edu.

Briana Samuels
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