The College of Staten Island ushered in an era of creativity and progress today with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Innovation Hub, located at the Lighthouse Point development in St. George.
The $3.845M facility, partially funded through nearly $1.8M from the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative, will foster technology development, entrepreneurship, and professional training in the Borough, driving the economy through innovation. Anchored by the CSI Tech Incubator, the Hub will also expand the College’s capacity to support business creation, partnerships, and hands-on training with a strong focus on collaboration.
Through its partnership with The Glimpse Group, the Hub integrates virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, and artificial intelligence across its programs, expanding how participants learn, build, and innovate. The space features flexible co-working areas, collaboration zones, and advanced technology labs designed to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem and create pathways to economic opportunity.
Those on hand to celebrate the Hub’s official opening included CSI President Timothy G. Lynch; CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez; New York Secretary of State Walter Mosely; Regional Director of Empire State Development Joseph Tazewell; Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella; CSI Executive Director of Economic Development and Community Partnerships Jasmine Cardona; and other community leaders.
In his comments, President Lynch said, “The Hub will provide access to frontier technologies: AI, robotics, virtual and augmented realities, supporting students, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community members. Faculty across disciplines, including social work and nursing, are already integrating these tools into their teaching and training. Importantly, this work aligns directly with CUNY’s mission as one of the nation’s greatest engines of social mobility. By expanding access to cutting-edge technology, real-world learning, and pathways to emerging industries, this Innovation Hub strengthens our commitment to helping students build futures of opportunity, stability, and upward mobility.”
Chancellor Matos Rodríguez underscored the value of the Innovation Hub to student. “This incubator, this Hub, is a big deal for us at CUNY and the College of Staten Island,” he said. “We have made it a key priority to ensure access to our students to all the skills, all the assets, all the resources that they could possibly need to transition into a meaningful career after they graduate.”
Secretary of State Mosley noted that the new facility aligns with Governor Kathy Hochul’s vision. “New York is a better place for all of us when we succeed together, when we are able to produce tangible results like this—tangible institutions that will not only impact the students that are here…but also [affect] surrounding communities, the small businesses that will be able to take advantage of this, the individual professionals that will be able to integrate this technology into their everyday operations,” he said.
In his remarks, Joseph Tazewell discussed the value of the facility to the local economy, stating, “This Innovation Hub is exactly the type of investment the Downtown Revitalization Initiative is designed to support, creating vibrant downtown spaces that foster opportunity, innovation, and economic growth. By expanding tech training, supporting entrepreneurs, and reconnecting students with emerging industries, this project will help strengthen the Staten Island workforce and local economy.”
Jasmine Cardona emphasized the process that brought the Hub into existence,noting that “what we see here today is the result of vision persistence, and a lot of people coming together to build something that truly serves this community.”
Prior to the program, Innovation Hub Director Luis Martinez, who was appointed in June 2025, reflected on the path to today’s launch. “The process was grueling. There were some setbacks but eventually, we came to a head and got everything together, and here we are,” he said.
Overlooking Bay Street, visitors got an inside look at what the Innovation Hub has to offer, including robotics demonstrations (featuring a robotic puppy and humanoid robot), augmented and virtual reality experiences, a soundproof cell phone booth, and a range of emerging technology opportunities.
