Innovation Labs
Our Innovation Labs advance the application of new technology to transform the delivery of essential services for all New Yorkers.
We work directly with some of New York’s largest, most complex public-sector agencies to identify their biggest challenges and source solutions from entrepreneurs around the world. Our Innovation Labs ensure that government has access to new technology and that entrepreneurs have access to our municipal agency partners.
We establish Innovation Labs in critical sectors where transformative technology solutions can have the greatest impact:
23
Challenges addressed
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Real-world technology tests
98
Alumni companies
How it works
Our Innovation Labs offer entrepreneurs worldwide an expedited path to testing their technologies with some of the largest, most complex public sector agencies in the New York region.
Early- to growth-stage companies apply to solve a specific challenge identified by the public sector agencies. Challenge winners conduct a proof of concept where relevant agency operating staff assess and provide feedback on the technology. Companies that demonstrate high value potential outcomes advance to a pilot of up-to 12 months.
Throughout the program, agency input helps entrepreneurs refine their products and learn how best to deploy them. This feedback accelerates their understanding of what the market needs because the market is at the table with them.
Challenges we’re addressing in 2025:
How to digitize manual inspections and optimize maintenance processes
How to accurately measure, capture, and improve paid ridership and travel demand data to optimize transit schedules and communicate effectively
How to improve infrastructure performance, capital planning, and day-to-day operations by using AI, integrated data, and advanced sensing technologies
How to enhance response to storms, site emergencies, and infrastructure security risks
How to enhance response to storms, site emergencies, and infrastructure security risks
How to better manage internal processes to expedite permitting processes, building inspections, code reviews, and enforcement initiatives
How to better utilize existing data to automate operations and increase staff capacity
This is technology in the public interest.
Public agencies can discover, assess, and pilot new technology solutions to their critical challenges and most important priorities in a low-cost, low-risk environment.
Innovative tech companies gain access to the municipal market, the opportunity to test and iterate directly with public-sector operators, and guidance from industry leaders.
Every New Yorker benefits from a more livable and resilient city.
Private-sector Labs
Our public-sector Innovation Labs are modeled off the success of our private sector Labs. The FinTech Innovation Lab is one of our early-generation Lab programs, launched in 2010 in partnership with Accenture. Each year, the Lab helps early- and growth-stage fintech companies refine and test their value propositions through mentorship and collaboration with over 40 top financial services and venture capital firms.
Each of our early-generation private sector labs supported the growth of emerging tech companies in key sectors, including enterprise technology (NYCSeed, 2008), life sciences (BioAccelerate NYC, 2010), health care (New York Digital Health Innovation Lab, 2012), and the fashion industry (Fashion Tech Lab, 2014).
