How Long Island can lead innovation in a new era

Long Island has never been short on ideas. For generations, this region helped define American innovation, from aerospace and defense to scientific discovery and advanced manufacturing. Institutions such as Brookhaven National Laboratory and Grumman anchored decades of breakthrough research and technological progress. The question today is whether the region has the will to build on that legacy for a new era shaped by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, healthcare and data-driven entrepreneurship.

It should. But that requires thinking differently about how innovation ecosystems are built. The next chapter will not be written by any one company or industry; it will depend on stronger partnerships among higher education, business, investors, civic leaders and entrepreneurs. If we want this region to remain a place where ideas become thriving companies, we need a coordinated strategy that connects talent and capital, supports early-stage ventures, and creates clearer pathways from research and education to commercialization and job growth.

One of the region’s top priorities must be workforce development. Technology entrepreneurship depends on talent that is both technically skilled and adaptable. That means colleges and universities must prepare students for the industries likely to shape the coming decades, from biotech and medicine to cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. It also means preparing an AI-enabled workforce. AI is increasingly part of the everyday tool kit for improving productivity, accelerating discovery and developing solutions. To stay competitive, schools (including K-12) must do more. They should give students regular exposure to computer science and responsible AI use; create more opportunities for project-based learning and career exploration; and strengthen partnerships with universities and employers so students can see a clearer path from their classrooms to Long Island careers.

The region also needs a stronger entrepreneurial infrastructure. While BNL continues to thrive, large employers that once drove the Island’s economy have significantly reduced their footprint. Newer companies are carrying that innovation forward, but they need a steady pipeline of talent, mentorship and investment. They also need an environment where recent college graduates can access guidance, build networks and find the support necessary to grow ideas into sustainable businesses. That support matters because startup growth is what turns innovation into jobs. Through the Long Island Association’s Accelerate LI effort, for example, early-stage science and tech companies supported by a Long Island Regional Economic Development Council seed fund helped generate dozens of full time jobs.

When Long Island connects research, entrepreneurship and capital, jobs follow. New York Tech alumni demonstrate that connection, through well-established businesses such as Joseph Ambrosio’s Smithtown-based Unique Electric Solutions, Roxana Escobar Kariyannis’ NAWI in Plainview and Matt Kumar’s Innovation Incubator in Manhasset Hills.

Universities have a pivotal role to play. At New York Tech, our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy is designed to go beyond traditional coursework by combining startup training, pitch competitions, hackathons, mentorship and a dedicated Startup Tech Central hub on our Long Island campus with access to a $5 million venture fund. The academy also broadens entrepreneurship beyond any one major, opening opportunities to students across disciplines and linking them directly with industry partners, maker spaces and support to commercialize their ideas.

Long Island’s future cannot rest on nostalgia. With the right investment and stronger collaboration among colleges, companies and communities, the region can build on its innovation heritage and develop a new wave of technology entrepreneurs.

This guest essay reflects the views of Dr. Jerry Balentine, an osteopathic physician and the president of New York Institute of Technology.