Utica, N.Y.—China’s growing influence in a range of technologies has worried lawmakers and prompted senators to pass the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. This bill will help finance research into semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence research, robotics and quantum computing if passed by Congress.

“The Mohawk Valley has a very rich and proud legacy of technological innovation particularly driven by the incredible scientists and engineers here at Rome lab,” Heather Hage, President and CEO of the Griffiss Institute explained.

The bill will pour nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars over the next 5 years into scientific research, $190 billion will go into artificial intelligence and quantum computing, two areas that Innovare Advancement Center, located in Rome plans on specializing in. Innovare, powered by the Griffiss Institute, is a 150,000 square foot open innovation hub that connects world-class scientific, engineering and entrepreneurial talent to tackle new challenges in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, quantum and unmanned aerial systems.

“World-class talent from all over the world, universities, companies and particularly the DOD and our core partners here in the air force,” Hage said. “To mix it up and get into very diverse combinations of teams to tackle challenges issued by the airforce that stress our national security.”

In the next few months, Innovare will begin opening up its laboratories on the first floor and welcoming in teams from the network of universities and companies they already have a relationship with.

“The quantum laboratories are going to be a big focal point,” Hage said. “A big showpiece here a big magnet, as well as the neuromorphic computer laboratories where the teams work on building circuits and chips and information technologies that can function together as a system that mimics the architecture and operations of the human brain if you can imagine that.

Innovare Advancement Center plans on having their grand opening in the beginning of July.