In a major boost for the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Hub, founding partner Microsoft announced this morning that it will deploy its new Discovery platform — an advanced Agentic AI and cloud technology designed to accelerate scientific research and problem-solving — at the West Windsor-based facility.
Microsoft officials say the Discovery platform will expand access to AI’s computational power for academia, government, start-ups and industry in two key ways:
- Leveraging high-performance computing and AI to rapidly analyze massive datasets, simulate experiments, and uncover new materials or solutions far faster than traditional methods;
- Fostering dynamic collaboration by pairing specialized AI agents with human experts, enabling continuous, iterative breakthroughs across disciplines.
NJ AI Hub Executive Director Liat Krawczyk said the Discovery platform aligns with a key mission of the Hub: To bring the power of artificial intelligence to New Jersey for the benefit of the region and the economy.
“We have here a real opportunity for researchers in academia and industry to have the kind of breakthroughs we’ve all been waiting for with AI,” she said.
The NJ AI Hub, a partnership between Microsoft, CoreWeave, Princeton University and the state of New Jersey, will be one of only two ecosystems of its kind in the world where the Discovery platform will be available initially. (TitletownTech at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the other.)
Microsoft Executive Vice President Jason Zander said the NJ AI Hub is an ideal place to use the Discovery platform.
“New Jersey’s life sciences landscape is world-class,” he said. “In bringing Microsoft Discovery to this partnership with the NJ AI Hub, we can accelerate breakthroughs where they matter most.
“By connecting industry and academic expertise across pharma, biotech, and materials science, we’re poised to turn high-impact challenges into solutions faster and at scale.”
There will be numerous opportunities for connectivity.
Jennifer Rexford, Princeton’s provost and the Gordon Y.S. Wu Professor in Engineering, noted the opportunities for researchers from colleges and universities across the state to engage with the new platform and other offerings of the NJ AI Hub.
“We’re excited for our scholars to use the Microsoft Discovery platform to accelerate their cutting-edge scientific work and be early leaders in this new mode of research,” she said.
This fits into the greater vision of Microsoft.
In addition to its role as a founding partner of the NJ AI Hub, Microsoft’s TechSpark program is also active in New Jersey, working to expand AI literacy, support workforce development and foster inclusive innovation across the state.
Krawczyk is all-in on the team approach.
“New Jersey is modeling how government, industry and academia can come together,” she said. “How do you meet every company where they are in their life cycle, whether they are still in the ideation and R&D stage, or commercializing and scaling up, or working on market penetration? We want to help any company, regardless of where they are, have an entry point and advancement avenue for their AI journey.”
Over the coming months, the NJ AI Hub and Microsoft will collaborate to design a strategic plan for engaging early adopters and innovators tackling complex challenges with significant societal impact.
This premium engagement period will prioritize fostering connections within New Jersey’s vibrant university research and laboratory ecosystem — particularly along the Route 1 corridor — while leveraging the full breadth of research talent across the state.
Corey Sanders, SVP of product at CoreWeave, said collaboration is key.
“At CoreWeave, we see firsthand from our customers how AI can innovate, develop, and shape the very foundation of our world and enable awe-inspiring scientific discoveries,” he said. “We are thrilled that Microsoft is bringing its Discovery platform to the NJ AI Hub to accelerate these cutting-edge advancements in science, right here in our home state of New Jersey.”
Kathleen Coviello, the chief economic transformation officer at the N.J. Economic Development Authority, said all of these actions are helping the state regain its place as a leader in innovation.
“By making bold investments in artificial intelligence, Gov. Murphy has positioned New Jersey at the forefront of this transformative field,” she said. “We appreciate Microsoft’s partnership in our shared mission to bolster the AI industry and for bringing its new platform to the NJ AI Hub, which will help accelerate research and fuel innovation.
“The NJ AI Hub builds upon the Garden State’s long legacy of innovation and technological excellence and will lead to more good-paying job opportunities for New Jersey residents.”
