Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian (left) joined officials from the Allegheny Conference and other regional partners in a videoconference with U.S. President Joseph R. Biden for a Sept. 2 announcement that Southwestern Pennsylvania is one of 21 regions awarded a Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant. The region was awarded a $62.7 million grant over four years.
As a global leader in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation research and technologies, Carnegie Mellon University is the birthplace of transformational innovations in these disciplines, innovations that have ignited a thriving technology industry and revitalized Pittsburgh's economy. Earlier this year, Carnegie Mellon worked with more than 90 partners in the region from the private and public sectors, philanthropy, labor, education and the economic development community to formulate the content of the proposal. Key to this effort were experts from CMU's Manufacturing Futures Institute (MFI), Block Center for Technology and Society and Robotics Institute.
Jahanian serves as co-chair of the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative, the governing board that advised on the application assembly and will oversee and ensure the implementation of the five projects supported by the grant award, along with co-chair Stefani Pashman, CEO of the Allegheny Conference.