Marist University and IBM Unveil Innovation Incubator with z17 Mainframe

Marist University and IBM have launched an innovation incubator on campus, marking the latest milestone in their over 50-year partnership. The new initiative will provide students with access to cutting-edge technology, including an IBM z17 mainframe, which will enable them to develop and test applications while gaining practical experience.

The incubator is designed to prepare students across various fields of study for a rapidly evolving digital economy. Initial projects include using AI in marketing and business, financial management, and polling/civic engagement. These projects aim to explore the potential of AI in improving polling methodologies and survey design, as well as modeling voter participation trends.

The partnership between Marist University and IBM is expanding its focus from enterprise computing and computer science education to a university-wide innovation ecosystem centered on artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary research, and experiential learning. The goal is to connect students with faculty researchers and IBM subject matter experts on projects addressing societal, business, and community challenges.