Newlab: Where Cool Inventions Are Born!

Launched in June 2016, Newlab represents a significant investment in the future of manufacturing and technology, with a $35 million budget dedicated to its establishment. Situated within the historic Building 128 of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a site rich with industrial heritage, Newlab was conceived as a multi-disciplinary technology center. Its core mission is to serve as a hardware-focused shared workspace, a sophisticated research laboratory, and a crucial 'hatchery' for enterprises developing technology with a social conscience.

The architectural and functional design draws inspiration from the pioneering model of the MIT Media Lab, aiming to replicate its success in fostering radical innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. This strategic location and substantial funding underscore a commitment to revitalizing industrial spaces for the digital age.

The impetus behind Newlab was to address a critical gap in the innovation ecosystem: the need for dedicated support for hardware development. Unlike software, hardware requires significant physical infrastructure, specialized equipment, and longer development cycles, making it more challenging for nascent companies to scale. Newlab provides these essential resources, alongside a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and problem-solving among diverse teams.

By focusing on 'socially oriented tech manufacturing,' Newlab actively cultivates businesses that aim to tackle pressing global issues, such as climate change, public health, and sustainable urban development, thereby aligning technological progress with societal benefit.

The membership at Newlab is characterized by its remarkable diversity, spanning a wide array of cutting-edge technological fields. Companies within Newlab are pushing boundaries in robotics, developing autonomous systems and advanced automation. Significant work is also underway in connected devices, contributing to the expanding Internet of Things landscape.

The energy sector benefits from innovations in sustainable power generation and efficiency. Furthermore, Newlab is a hub for advancements in nanotechnology, exploring its applications in medicine and materials science, alongside critical research in life sciences and the development of smart, resilient urban technologies designed to enhance city living.

Newlab has garnered considerable media attention for its pivotal role in the ongoing revitalization of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, transforming a historic industrial site into a modern center for innovation. Its operational model is underpinned by a unique public-private partnership lease structure, facilitating collaboration between governmental bodies and private enterprise. A cornerstone of its mission is the 'Urban Tech' initiative, a strategic collaboration with the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

This program specifically targets the development and deployment of technologies that address the complex challenges of urban environments, aiming to create more sustainable, efficient, and livable cities for the future.