Cornell Tech
Cornell Tech is a graduate-level campus of Cornell University dedicated to advancing technology through interdisciplinary education, research, and innovation in fields including computer science, business, electrical engineering, and urban technology, situated on Roosevelt Island in New York City.[1][2] Established in 2011 through a competitive bid process initiated by New York City to foster applied sciences and tech innovation, Cornell partnered with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology to develop the campus, which began operations in temporary facilities in Manhattan in 2012 before relocating to its permanent Roosevelt Island site in 2017.[3][4] The institution emphasizes a "builder mindset" that integrates academic rigor with practical application, producing leaders equipped to address real-world technological challenges via collaborative studios and venture creation.[5][2] Cornell Tech offers master's programs such as the Master of Engineering in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Information Systems; the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA; and a Master of Laws, alongside PhD opportunities, all designed to blend technical expertise with business acumen and ethical considerations in technology deployment.[6][5] Its research initiatives, conducted through centers like the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, focus on applied outcomes in areas including AI, cybersecurity, and digital health, aiming to translate foundational discoveries into societal impact.[7][8] Notable achievements include alumni founding over 60 startups that have raised more than $75 million in funding and employ over 370 individuals, underscoring the campus's role in nurturing entrepreneurial ecosystems and contributing to New York City's emergence as a tech hub.[9] The campus architecture, featuring energy-efficient buildings like The Bridge and The Commons, supports interdisciplinary interaction and has been engineered for sustainability and community engagement on the island.[10]Founding and Historical Development
Origins in NYC Applied Sciences Initiative
The New York City Applied Sciences Initiative, formally launched in December 2010 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, aimed to establish a new graduate-level applied sciences and engineering campus to bolster the city's technological innovation and economic diversification. The program invited proposals from universities and institutions worldwide, offering incentives including subsidized land, infrastructure investments up to $100 million from the city, and long-term leases at nominal rates to attract a partner capable of generating high-impact research in fields like information technology and urban systems. This effort stemmed from Bloomberg's recognition of New York's overreliance on finance and its need to cultivate tech talent to rival Silicon Valley, with projections estimating the campus could create up to 15,000 jobs over 30 years through direct employment, startups, and spillover effects.[11][12] Cornell University entered the competition in July 2011, proposing a novel model for an interdisciplinary campus focused on applied engineering, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem-solving in collaboration with industry. The university's bid highlighted its engineering strengths and commitment to integrating research with commercial application, positioning New York as a center for "connected urban systems" and digital health innovations. Unlike other entrants such as NYU, Carnegie Mellon, and Stanford, Cornell's vision emphasized a standalone graduate institution rather than an extension of an existing campus, which appealed to city officials seeking transformative impact.[13] On December 19, 2011, the city selected Cornell's consortium—partnered with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology—as the winner from 18 initial applicants and seven finalists, granting development rights to a 2-million-square-foot site on Roosevelt Island's former Goldwater Hospital grounds. The selection criteria prioritized institutional prestige, innovation potential, and economic benefits, with Bloomberg citing the proposal's emphasis on scalable tech solutions for urban challenges as decisive. Initial funding commitments included $350 million from New York State and private pledges, enabling preparatory work while the consortium operated from temporary Google-provided space in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood starting in fall 2012. This outcome formalized the origins of Cornell Tech as a public-private endeavor to embed advanced applied sciences within New York's ecosystem.[14][3]Partnership Formation with Technion
Cornell University initiated discussions with the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology to form a strategic alliance for the New York City Applied Sciences Initiative competition in early 2011. The first meeting between Cornell President David Skorton and Technion President Peretz Lavie occurred secretly in March 2011 in Beijing, followed by a second discreet meeting in July 2011 at the Cornell Club in New York. This partnership was kept confidential to maintain a competitive edge against rivals, including Stanford University, and was publicly announced on October 18, 2011, just before the October 28 proposal deadline.[15][16] The alliance aimed to combine Cornell's interdisciplinary strengths in research and education with Technion's renowned expertise in engineering innovation and technology commercialization, drawing on Israel's robust startup ecosystem. The joint proposal outlined the creation of the Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute, focusing on graduate programs in applied sciences and engineering with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and dual-degree offerings, pending approval. Planned campus development included up to 2 million square feet of facilities to accommodate approximately 2,000 graduate students and 250 faculty members, positioning New York City as a global technology hub.[15][16] On December 19, 2011, New York City selected the Cornell-Technion bid from among international competitors, attributing the win in part to the unique synergy of the two institutions. Mayor Michael Bloomberg highlighted this collaboration as a critical factor, noting its potential to foster economic opportunity through tech leadership. The partnership's formation proved pivotal, enabling Cornell to secure the Roosevelt Island site without a primary partner initially anticipated, and laid the groundwork for subsequent developments like the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute established in 2013.[3][16][15]