Keystone AI + Quantum Factory

Pennsylvania’s Seven R1 Universities & Commonwealth Leaders Launch Keystone AI + Quantum Factory to Drive Innovation, Jobs, and Statewide Growth

info@keystonefactory.org | keystonefactory.org

HARRISBURG, Pa. — April 21, 2026 — In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Pennsylvania’s seven research intensive universities* have joined forces with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Team Pennsylvania to launch the Keystone AI + Quantum Factory. The Keystone AI + Quantum Factory is a statewide innovation network leveraging AI and quantum computing to translate university research into practical solutions for Pennsylvania’s key industries.

The initiative marks the first time the commonwealth’s seven research institutions have aligned around a shared vision to create large scale artificial intelligence and quantum technologies for Pennsylvania’s businesses and workers.

“This collaboration will serve as a powerful economic catalyst for Pennsylvania. It will transform groundbreaking research into solutions for the commonwealth’s energy, manufacturing, agricultural, life sciences, AI, and robotics sectors, while driving lasting job creation and building a future-proof workforce,” said Barr von Oehsen, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center.

“Bringing together Pennsylvania’s top research universities, the Keystone AI, and Quantum Factory will accelerate breakthroughs in technologies that are shaping the future of our economy,” said Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary for Technology and Entrepreneurship Jen Gilburg. “This initiative will turn world-class research into new companies, high-quality jobs, and economic opportunity across the Commonwealth. The Shapiro Administration will continue to spur innovation and create jobs and opportunity for Pennsylvanians.”

“The Keystone AI + Quantum Factory shows what we can accomplish when we join forces across institutions and regions for the betterment of the commonwealth,” said Abby Smith, President & CEO of Team Pennsylvania.

The Keystone AI + Quantum Factory is built on three interconnected pillars designed to drive economic growth and success:

• World Class Research: Using new tools to drive cutting-edge research, launch
  start-ups, and build smart partnerships with businesses across the
  commonwealth.
• Workforce Development: Preparing students and employees across Pennsylvania
  for future-focused careers integrating technology.
• Shared Infrastructure: Delivering large scale GPU/CPU and data resources that
  are needed to lead in the era of AI as well as supporting leadership in emerging
  technologies.

Participating university leaders emphasized the power of collaboration and the impact on Pennsylvania, listed here in alphabetical order:

Carnegie Mellon University

“Access to advanced computing is quickly becoming the limiting factor in both AI and quantum research. This initiative changes that equation for Pennsylvania. By scaling access to both AI and quantum infrastructure across institutions, we are enabling more researchers and students to participate at the frontier – and to do so in ways that are collaborative, responsible, and impactful.”

– Theresa Mayer, Vice President for Research, Carnegie Mellon University

Drexel University

“Drexel is so excited to be collaborating with our fellow R1 institutions across the Commonwealth, the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Team Pennsylvania as we partner on efforts to accelerate discovery and real-world impact in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. By aligning our talent, infrastructure, and research strengths, we can move faster, think bigger, and ensure that these transformative technologies advance economic growth, national competitiveness, and the public good.”

– Aleister Saunders, PhD, Executive Vice Provost, Office of Research
& Innovation, Drexel University

Lehigh University

“The Keystone AI + Quantum Factory is creating a coordinated, statewide platform that changes Pennsylvania’s position in the national research landscape. By aligning talent and infrastructure across our leading research universities, we create a single point of entry for federal agencies and industry partners that none of us could offer alone. Lehigh is proud to help build something Pennsylvania has needed for a long time.”

– Anand Jagota, PhD, Vice-Provost for Research, Lehigh University

The Pennsylvania State University

“This initiative represents exactly the kind of coordinated, large-scale effort needed to ensure Pennsylvania leads in the technologies that will define the next century. By aligning our research strengths, infrastructure, and talent across institutions, we are creating a platform that accelerates discovery while delivering real economic impact for the commonwealth. Penn State is proud to partner on this initiative and lend our robust, cutting-edge research enterprise to the effort.”

– Andrew Read, Senior Vice President for Research at The Pennsylvania State
University

Temple University

“We are quickly moving to a place where the computing resources needed to keep our researchers and innovators on the cutting edge can not be solely supplied by individual institutions. This historic coordination across the Commonwealth will help keep Pennsylvania at the forefront of discovery, attract talent and industry, and be a vital resource both for our emerging workforce and existing small businesses.”

– Josh Gladden, Vice President of Research, Temple University

University of Pennsylvania

“Eighty years ago, Penn built the world’s first programmable computer — rewired by hand for every new task. Today, we converse with machines in plain English. Penn has helped write every chapter of that story, and our researchers are now using these tools to unravel diseases that steal our health as we age, and to build sensors and intelligent networks that help farmers grow more with less. The Keystone AI and Quantum Factory gives Pennsylvania’s academic institutions the infrastructure to lead what comes next — responsibly and boldly.”

– David Meaney, PhD, Vice Provost for Research at the University of
Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

“The University of Pittsburgh is proudly supporting the Keystone Factory. This effort will significantly advance our understanding of the universe through Professor Evan Schneider’s groundbreaking research in star formation, and it will enable better health outcomes through Professor Adrian Lee’s research on tumor evolution. For the first time, we are coordinating the expertise and sharing the infrastructure of our Center for Research Computing and Data to support Pennsylvanians and businesses across the commonwealth.”

– Rob Rutenbar, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Pittsburgh

This unified approach strengthens Pennsylvania’s ability to attract investment, keep its
talent home, and compete aggressively in the technologies shaping the next generation
of economic stabilization. By connecting top research capacity with industry needs, it
will:

• Support manufacturers in both rural and urban communities.
• Boost competitiveness in crucial sectors like energy, agriculture and healthcare.
• Expand access to advanced technologies previously unavailable for smaller
  businesses.
• Create high-quality and family-sustaining jobs.
• Build new career pathways for students.

As artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced technologies reshape how regions and businesses compete, Pennsylvania possesses the research strength, industrial base, and workforce foundation to lead. The Keystone AI + Quantum Factory ensures those assets are aligned intentionally and strategically to secure long-term viability.

*Editor’s Note: The seven research institutions (R1) include: Carnegie Mellon University, Drexel University, Lehigh University, Penn State University, Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Pittsburgh

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About the Keystone AI + Quantum Factory

The Keystone AI + Quantum Factory is a long-term partnership driven by Pennsylvania’s seven R1 research universities, the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Team Pennsylvania. The Keystone Factory exists to accelerate scientific discovery and commercially relevant innovation through AI and quantum research and the co-development of an efficient shared computing and data infrastructure that no single institution could build alone, unlocking breakthroughs that drive industry innovation, economic growth, and good jobs for Pennsylvania.