Overview

The central research offices of Princeton, Rutgers, NJIT, Rowan and Stevens Institute, in coordination with NJ State Chief Innovation Officer Beth Noveck, have formed a working group to pursue collaborative opportunities for “smart cities” research in New Jersey. Research institutions throughout the state are eligible and invited to participate.

The working group grew out of the success of a 2019 multi-institutional conference, Building the Future: New Technological Frontiers in Cities, held at Princeton University. More than 200 participants, including university researchers; city, county and state government officials; and industry representatives came together to review current research and to explore new opportunities for collaboration in this growing field.

Mission

To pursue collaborative research opportunities for Smart Cities among universities, industry, government and associations in the NJ Region, to advance municipal sustainability, equity, and prosperity in NJ cities and regions.

Why?

The rapid evolution of data technologies creates new opportunities to improve urban living. At the same time, the geography of NJ—small and mid-sized cities, in distinct clusters—requires collaboration between the many players for problem solving. The Working Group is a way to synergize parallel Smart Cities efforts within NJ higher education, together with recent NJ state initiatives for innovation-driven economic development, for the benefit of residents.

Stakeholders in Working Group Efforts

• University researchers
• City/county governments
• State government/NJEDA
• Foundations/nonprofits
• NSF and DOE
• Industry
• New Jersey residents
• University students

Methodology

The Working Group will identify and match stakeholder needs, capabilities, and resources toward its mission, as follows:

• Needs: as determined by cities, the state, and researchers
• Capabilities: as described by researchers and companies
• Resources: as provided/facilitated by federal agencies, state agencies, industry, and foundations.

Roadmap

To execute the methodology, the Working Group is pursuing research collaborations by:

• Vetting and organizing opportunities that involve multiple stakeholders.
• Organizing events such as workshops, symposia, hackathons, and meetups, to advance collaboration opportunities.