The New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Hub (NJ AI Hub) will launch an AI Accelerator in 2026 designed to promote innovative startups and entrepreneurs by connecting them with mentors, investors and industry partners. Plug and Play – a global innovation platform – will power the accelerator.
Pushing the boundaries on AI development and innovation is the core purpose of the AI Accelerator, with the goal of positioning the state as a national leader in AI technologies while attracting new investors. To better support these partnerships, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has established – alongside additional accredited investors – a $20 million fund to help startups associated with the NJ AI Hub Strategic Innovation Center (SIC) scale state-of-the-art AI technologies.
The accelerator will leverage the state’s sectoral strengths, advancing technological innovation and deployment for:
- Healthcare.
- Pharmaceuticals.
- Smart infrastructure.
- Advanced manufacturing.
- Financial services.
- Energy.
- Materials.
- Telecommunications.
- Logistics.
Plug and Play will select and run cohorts each year designed to support and assist startups at all stages of development. The accelerator will provide the resources and services needed to scale AI ventures, including mentorship, business model refinement, hands-on workshops, funding accessibility and high-value introductions. With Plug and Play at the helm, the accelerator will have access to thousands of startups, corporate partners and innovation hubs across the globe.
The state’s efforts to directly partner and promote entrepreneurs follow in the wake of other partnerships recently established to advance AI interests and goals. In addition to the accelerator, the NJ AI Hub will host an entrepreneur’s co-working space, implement education and workforce development and deploy community events to foster and sustain AI policy discussions and culture.
Founded in the 2023, the NJ AI Hub was established to consolidate AI researchers, industry leaders, startups and other collaborators to realize a bold AI-driven vision for the future of New Jersey’s prominent sectors. With the $20 million investment established, the hub will be further empowered to advance research and development, support startup creation, progress the use of ethical AI for the public good and improve workforce development.
The AI Accelerator is not the first time that Plug and Play has closely collaborated with NJEDA to advance the AI agenda. The authority already has an existing partnership with the platform through the New Jersey Fintech Accelerator at Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ FAST) SIC, as well as a multi-location SIC in partnership with Rowan University.
Among its latest developments in pioneering AI technologies, the NJ AI Hub was recently selected as one of two global sites to host the Microsoft Discovery platform. The inaugural decision provides the hub’s founding partners with greater research and discovery power through cutting-edge agentic AI and cloud technology. NJEDA also opened applications for a tax credit program in June 2025 to help businesses invest in large-scale AI data centers and other relevant activities.
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