Governor Maura Healey announced significant developments in Massachusetts' artificial intelligence (AI) sector during IBM's Think 2025 conference in Boston. The state will allocate a $31 million grant to enhance access to sustainable high-performance computing, crucial for AI innovation. Additionally, the Massachusetts AI Hub has appointed its first director and is exploring a partnership with IBM and Red Hat to establish a startup accelerator program.
Launched in December 2024, the Massachusetts AI Hub aims to position the state as a leader in AI innovation by fostering collaboration among government, industry, startups, and academia. Governor Healey expressed gratitude to IBM for hosting its global conference in Massachusetts and emphasized the state's commitment to promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration. "Together, we’re positioning Massachusetts as a global leader in applied AI," she said.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll highlighted the potential of AI to transform daily life while creating new partnerships. "It’s necessary that we support this growth through centers of learning," she stated.
The $31 million grant will facilitate a partnership with the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) to create an Artificial Intelligence Compute Resources (AICR) environment. This initiative aims to provide essential infrastructure for public and private institutions, startups, businesses, and residents of Massachusetts. The collaboration between the state and MGHPCC's member universities is expected to reach an estimated $120 million investment over five years.
John Goodhue, Executive Director of MGHPCC, praised these efforts: "The MGHPCC and its member universities are excited to be a part of this effort by the Healey-Driscoll administration."
Governor Healey also announced plans for a public-private partnership with IBM and Red Hat aimed at supporting AI startups in Massachusetts. Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba noted that "artificial intelligence will be a key driver of economic opportunity over the next decade."
Technology Services and Security Secretary Jason Snyder remarked on Massachusetts' strong position within the AI sector: "The rich technology ecosystem here has a history of advancing innovation for the greater good."
The newly appointed executive director of the Massachusetts AI Hub is Sabrina Mansur, formerly head of strategic planning at Torc Robotics. Carolyn Kirk, CEO of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, welcomed her appointment: "Sabrina brings the expertise needed to build on momentum for artificial intelligence in our state."
This announcement follows other investments in February 2025 when MassTech launched initiatives like the Massachusetts AI Models Innovation Challenge and Sector Spark program grants aimed at advancing AI projects across various sectors.
For more information about the Massachusetts AI Hub visit their website.