First-of-its-kind statewide initiative focusing initial work on health, energy, manufacturing and advanced computing projects
Harrisburg, PA – June 3, 2026 – Less than two months after its launch, the Keystone AI + Quantum Factory, a new statewide collaboration among Pennsylvania’s leading research institutions, is already advancing an ambitious portfolio of projects aimed at accelerating scientific discovery, strengthening key industries and driving long-term economic growth across the Commonwealth.
“By bringing together Pennsylvania’s leading research universities and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, the Keystone AI + Quantum Factory is creating a statewide innovation center designed to strengthen collaboration, accelerate discovery and fuel the industries that sustain our Commonwealth. This shared engine of innovation will help turn advanced research into practical tools, economic opportunity and high-quality jobs for Pennsylvanians.” — Rob Cunningham, Vice Chancellor for Research Infrastructure, University of Pittsburgh, Chair of the Keystone Factory Governance Committee
Launched in April 2026, the Keystone Factory brings together researchers and resources from across the Commonwealth to pursue work that no single institution could achieve independently. Participating organizations include each of Pennsylvania’s R1, or research- intensive, universities, along with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center and additional public and private partners.
The Keystone Factory is designed to serve as a statewide innovation center that strengthens collaboration among Pennsylvania’s research institutions while accelerating the development of new technologies, workforce opportunities and commercially relevant innovation. Universities will partner together on research that leverages existing supercomputing capacity, advanced software tools and shared expertise to analyze data and model scenarios at a scale and speed not previously possible through isolated institutional efforts. The initiative is intended not only to advance scientific discovery, but also to strengthen pathways between university research, industry partnerships and economic opportunity across Pennsylvania.
The initial project portfolio includes collaborative efforts led by researchers across every participating institution, including:
- Carnegie Mellon University: Building advanced AI-driven simulation environments where agents can learn, test, and optimize hypotheses before deployment in the physical world. By minimizing reliance on traditional trial-and-error experimentation, these systems could significantly accelerate innovation in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemical engineering, and materials science.
- Drexel University: Using AI and advanced computing to speed up the development of stronger, more durable materials for energy, aerospace and manufacturing applications, helping support industries that are critical to Pennsylvania’s economy.
- Lehigh University: Developing AI-driven models to better predict the progression of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, with the potential to support earlier interventions, improve patient outcomes and strengthen Pennsylvania’s growing healthcare and life sciences sectors.
- Temple University: Developing trustworthy AI tools to help personalize dementia care and improve support for patients and caregivers facing memory-related diseases that affect millions of families nationwide.
- Pennsylvania State University: Using advanced computational modeling to better understand complex physical systems and accelerate scientific discovery in fields ranging from engineering to astrophysics.
- University of Pennsylvania: Expanding access to AI tools that can help researchers and clinicians develop next-generation medicines, improve human health and strengthen Pennsylvania’s leadership in biotechnology and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- University of Pittsburgh: Applying advanced computational research to better understand complex biological and physical systems, helping drive discoveries with applications in healthcare, engineering and scientific innovation.
Together, these projects reflect a broader strategy to connect research discovery with practical application and long-term economic opportunity for Pennsylvanians. The portfolio is designed to demonstrate the power of coordinated, cross-institutional research while creating a foundation for future federal investment, industry collaboration, workforce development and economic modernization opportunities across the Commonwealth.
The initiative also reflects growing recognition that access to advanced computing infrastructure, cutting-edge software and domain expertise will play a major role in the future economy. As demand for AI and high-performance computing continues to increase, participating researchers are examining how technologies and infrastructure can be developed responsibly, efficiently and sustainably.
“The unique partnership structure of the Keystone Factory creates opportunities to develop advanced computing infrastructure more efficiently and collaboratively, helping Pennsylvania explore responsible, sustainable approaches to high-performance computing and future data infrastructure needs.” — Jaime Combariza, Executive Director, Penn Advanced Research Computing Center, University of Pennsylvania, Chair of the Keystone Factory Infrastructure Committee
Pennsylvania’s research institutions collectively represent one of the nation’s strongest concentrations of expertise in artificial intelligence, quantum science, engineering, computing, manufacturing and health sciences. The Keystone Factory creates a new framework for aligning those strengths in ways that accelerate discovery, strengthen industry partnerships and support long-term economic competitiveness.
For more information on the Keystone AI + Quantum Factory, visit keystonefactory.org.