Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative (NJSCI) on Oct. 20, a public-private effort totaling more than $125 million. It will double the computing capacity of the state's research universities and make it available to researchers, students and businesses.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced on Oct. 20 the launch of the New Jersey Supercomputer Initiative (NJSCI). Total public and private investment exceeds $125 million. Nvidia co-founder Chris Malachowsky and his wife, Melody Malachowsky, contributed $75 million in personal gifts, SHI International, an IT company in Somerset County, is adding $25 million, and the state is contributing $25 million through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).
Eight in-state research universities are taking part: Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Princeton University, Rowan University, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University and Stevens Institute of Technology. The New Jersey Council of County Colleges is also involved. Each institution will contribute a set amount annually. How other institutions can take part will be announced in 2027. Once the new supercomputer is in place, the research universities' computing capacity in the state will be double what it is now.
SHI will install and operate the equipment at an existing facility in New Jersey. Beginning in 2027, NJSCI, an independent nonprofit, will take over operations, guided by principles of transparency and equitable access. It will be a shared resource available not only to researchers and students but also to entrepreneurs, businesses and institutions, and dozens of projects are currently being reviewed for use in 2027. Priority research areas include flood risk mapping and coastal protection, early detection of cancer and other diseases, new drug development and the safety of large language models.
The plan also includes education and jobs components. An AI higher education and workforce consortium will develop curricula, hands-on training and apprenticeship programs ranging from basic AI literacy to advanced computing and data science, and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development will support apprenticeships and training. The state said good jobs will be created but did not give a specific number. The project also includes a plan to bring new clean energy onto the state's power grid. More details are available at NJSupercomputer.org.