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The grand opening of the Robotics Innovation Center on February 27, 2026, in Hazelwood.
Gov. Josh Shapiro attended the opening celebration of the Robotics Innovation Center on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, announcing a $1.5 million state grant to support a planned Physical AI Accelerator inside the RIC.

Pennsylvania Invests in CMU Project to Advance Physical AI Innovation

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Gov. Josh Shapiro announced today that Pennsylvania will invest in ɫTV’s plan to develop a new 25,000‑square‑foot Physical AI Accelerator inside the CMU Robotics Innovation Center(opens in new window) (RIC) at Hazelwood Green.

The RIC is CMU’s newest 150,000‑square‑foot research hub dedicated to next‑generation robotics and AI. Equipped with high‑bay labs, wet labs, indoor and outdoor testing environments, and collaborative workspaces, the RIC strengthens Pittsburgh’s position as a global leader in robotics innovation and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, building on CMU’s world‑renowned expertise in autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.

The $1.5 million state grant from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program will support construction costs. Design work is scheduled to begin in 2026, with construction expected to conclude by March 2028.

We are proud to make that investment. Specifically, those dollars will be used to support the physical AI accelerator that will connect the dots between the cutting edge work that's done by CMU students and researchers with leading startups that want to take that technology out of the classroom and apply it in the real world,” Gov. Shapiro said.

The Accelerator will establish dedicated space within the RIC for corporate launch teams, startups and CMU researchers to collaborate on physical AI — technologies that merge robotics, sensing, materials science and intelligent systems. Partners in the Accelerator will have access to the RIC’s end‑to‑end robotics development infrastructure, spanning nano‑scale fabrication to large‑scale autonomous systems. Resources include fabrication and rapid‑prototyping labs, electronics workstations, wet labs for bio‑robotics and environmental robotics, high‑ and low‑bay testing areas, a motion‑capture lab, and a one‑acre outdoor environment for drone operations and agricultural experimentation.

“ɫTV deeply appreciates Governor Shapiro’s leadership in advancing Pennsylvania’s innovation economy,” CMU President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window) said. “We are proud to build on our partnership in turning state investment into jobs and economic growth for Western Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth. This investment will empower entrepreneurs, attract world-class talent, and reinforce our region’s leadership in robotics, AI and advanced manufacturing.”

In addition to advancing research and commercialization, the project is designed to deliver significant economic, educational and community benefits for the region. The Accelerator is expected to create 150 jobs in its first year by attracting corporate partners and supporting new start‑ups with access to its state-of-the-art facilities. Over the first three years, CMU anticipates bringing three major anchor firms to the region, strengthening Pittsburgh’s position as a hub for robotics and advanced manufacturing. 

The initiative will also expand educational outreach by engaging more than 2,000 students across Pennsylvania in physical AI learning opportunities during its first two years, giving students and teachers statewide hands-on exposure to emerging technologies that are shaping the future of work.

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