Priority 3: Research, Innovation And Entrepreneurship

Generative AI is creating new opportunities for innovation and knowledge creation while also challenging the traditional model of a research enterprise. At the same time, the development of intellectual property and the translation and commercialization of research requires dedicated investment and space, both of which have been constrained as the university has grown. NJIT’s status as a Carnegie R1 (Very High Research Activity) university and New Jersey’s only public polytechnic university make it uniquely positioned to serve as an Innovation Nexus, bringing together highly productive researchers, government organizations, industries, local entrepreneurs, angel investors, and mentors dedicated to facilitating new business ventures built on the ideas and IP of faculty, staff, and students.

NJIT will focus its research enterprise on collaborative, large-scale, applied projects in areas such as healthcare, sustainability, and data sciences while not precluding individual achievements. We will provide robust support for single principal investigator (PI) initiatives, including those targeting young investigator awards which are the seedbeds for innovation. The emphasis on large-scale collaborative research will harness the synergy that comes from multidisciplinary teams working together towards common goals, while strategic corporate engagement will ensure that our endeavors align with industry needs and benefit from corporate expertise and resources. A focused research portfolio will be balanced by partnerships beyond the corporate realm to include non-profits and government agencies.

KEY METRICS

• Total research & development expenditures
• Number and funding level of collaborative research grants
• Doctoral student enrollment and graduation rates
• Retention of Carnegie R1 status
• NJII total revenue
• Professional and corporate education revenue