NYCEDC Selects Consortium of Top Academic Institutions as Operator of First-of-its-Kind Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub, Contingently Awarding $45 Million

New Consortium Including Columbia University, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Fashion Institute of Technology, and Genspace, to Operate New Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub “Gotham Foundry”
Hub will Support Early-Stage, Deep Tech Companies, Research and Development, to Create New Sustainable Materials for Buildings, Fashion, Food, Packaging, and Medical Devices
Gotham Foundry Advances Mayor Adams’ Efforts to Make NYC the Global Center of Sustainable Technology by Leveraging the City’s Growing Biotechnology and Green Economy Industries, Generating $5.14 Billion in Economic Impact Over the Next Three Decades
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced that a new consortium comprising Columbia University, the Advanced Science Research Center at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center (ASRC), the Fashion Institute of Technology at the State University of New York (FIT), and community biolab Genspace, has been contingently awarded $45 million and selected as the operator for a cutting-edge first-of-its-kind sustainable materials innovation hub. The new hub, “Gotham Foundry,” is a part of NYCEDC’s ongoing commitment to foster deep tech startups that drive transformational innovation. Gotham Foundry will initially be located at Harlem Biospace and begin operations in Summer 2025.
Gotham Foundry will capitalize on New York City’s strength as global leader in research, development, and innovation to create this new hub of materials innovation, designed to support the next frontier of regenerative materials with a circular life cycle—such as degradable bioplastics, textiles made from food products, and other materials that will reduce industrial waste and pollution—that will support key industries foundational to the City's economy including the fashion, construction, and regenerative medicine industries. Gotham Foundry is expected to generate $5.14 billion in economic output over the next three decades and will also create high-quality career opportunities for New Yorkers, including through workforce training programs for entrepreneurs and students, such as Genspace's Break into Biotech program.
“I am thrilled by today's announcement and the creation of Gotham Foundry, a world-class consortia that will engineer, invent, commercialize and launch the next chapter in the sustainable material sciences revolution and do so right here in New York,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión, Jr. “Congratulations to EDC and all the partners, I am eager to see the innovation that results from this exciting partnership, especially in the area of fashion so that the city continues to lead as the world's greatest hub for fashion design and production.”
“New York City continues to solidify its position as a global leader in deep tech and cutting-edge innovation, and Gotham Foundry is proof of just that—this new center of excellence will leverage the City’s life sciences and green economy ecosystems to bring a new generation of materials from the lab to the market,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “Gotham Foundry will support a new generation of research and entrepreneurship, generating billions of dollars in economic output for the City, creating high-quality career opportunities for New Yorkers and catalyzing transformative change across industries—from construction to fashion to healthcare—in the process.”
This announcement is also a reflection of the City’s dedicated commitment to investing in deep tech initiatives to deliver transformational impact by solving existing challenges through innovation and opening New York to new markets. Some key investments include the creation of BATWorks, a climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, the AI Nexus, launching the Greenlight Innovation Fund, supporting the NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT)’s Micro-mobility Charging Pilot, the Pilots at BAT program, Newlab’s Urban Tech Hub, and the Mount Siani BioDesign Center for Surgical Devices.
This announcement is supported by LifeSci NYC, a $1 billion initiative overseen by NYCEDC to create 40,000 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years. The Materials Innovation Hub Request for Express Interest (RFEI) was released in January 2023 to secure an operator for this cutting-edge center for advanced and sustainable materials that will bring innovations from the lab to market and help grow the sustainable bioeconomy. Additionally, Gotham Foundry advances New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan by encouraging commercialization of green technology while catalyzing sustainable bioeconomy and materials innovation.
“As we said in PlaNYC, we can’t address our climate challenges without innovation, and today’s announcement is a prime example of how we’re constantly looking to work with companies that are looking to transform the city—whether it’s through its buildings, food, and even the clothes on our back,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “But this hub is good for more than just the planet. It’s also going to create more green jobs in one of our environmental justice neighborhoods.”
“The creation of Gotham Foundry is an exciting step forward in our work to ensure that New York remains a global leader in economic and scientific innovation,” said Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning. “This innovation hub will help us continue to support industries like fashion and garment manufacturing that play an important role in our local creative economy.”
“Today’s announcement places West Harlem at the center of a cutting-edge effort that will make our economy more prosperous and sustainable,” said Doug Lipari, Acting Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development. “By combining research and development with training and employment opportunities, Gotham Foundry reflects the City’s commitment to innovation needed to grow the green economy and prepare New Yorkers for careers that offer a pathway to the middle class.”
“Gotham Foundry, a new kind of partnership between New York’s private and public universities plus community partners, represents our collective commitment to regenerative material innovation and to the growth of new, green industries and jobs right here in the city,” said Shih-Fu Chang, Dean of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science of Columbia University. “We are excited to partner with NYCEDC to bring this ambitious vision to life”.
“I am proud that The Graduate Center’s Advanced Science Research Center is playing such a central role in driving innovation and commercialization of biologically inspired materials for wide-ranging applications,” said President Joshua Brumberg of the Graduate Center of CUNY. “Gotham Foundry not only advances cutting-edge research, but also creates tangible opportunities for our students through workforce development and post-graduation employment in our West Harlem community.”
“As a college of the State University of New York that specializes in preparing students for the creative industries, FIT is committed to innovation and interdisciplinary partnerships,” said President of the Fashion Institute of Technology Dr. Joyce F. Brown. “Our community looks forward to exploring new pathways in sustainability and materials innovation as part of this exciting consortium with Columbia University and the Gotham Foundry partners.”
“Tomorrow’s materials are as much about cutting-edge research as who gets a seat at the bench,” said Casey Lardner, PhD, Executive Director of Genspace. “Genspace is thrilled to join the Gotham Foundry consortium in building an innovation hub that centers both sustainability and equity through community-driven research. Together, we’re building a new kind of R&D ecosystem—one where grassroots innovation plays a vital role in shaping the future of materials.”
“Gotham Foundry builds on the last decade of investments that brought SOSV’s IndieBio to New York City and launched the development of the SPARC Kips Bay science campus,” said Maria Gotsch, President & CEO of the Partnership Fund for New York City. “This initiative will foster the continued growth of our deep tech sector and expand biotech innovation beyond life sciences and healthcare. Innovation in new materials will help ensure that some of New York City's biggest sectors—fashion, retail, construction, and more—have access to cutting-edge technologies and make our economy stronger and more sustainable.”
“Material innovation plays a vital role in shaping the future of fashion,” said CFDA CEO Steven Kolb. “We’re incredibly appreciative when new resources emerge that uplift and benefit the broader design community.”
“The launch of Gotham Foundry is a bold investment in New York City’s future, one that will position us as a global leader in sustainable innovation while creating new pathways to economic opportunity,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development. “As Majority Leader and Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, I’m proud to support this visionary partnership that unites our academic institutions, entrepreneurs, and emerging industries to develop forward-thinking materials that meet the challenges of tomorrow. From green construction to sustainable fashion, this hub reflects the kind of transformative, equity-driven innovation we need to build a just and resilient economy for all New Yorkers.”
“The Gotham Foundry is a shining example of what’s possible when we harness the brilliance of New Yorkers to build a greener, fairer future,” said New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher. “By bringing together powerhouses like Columbia, CUNY, FIT, and Genspace, we’re creating a world-class hub for sustainable innovation right here in the five boroughs. This isn’t just about cutting-edge research—it’s about expanding access, opening doors, and making sure students, entrepreneurs, and communities that have too often been left behind are front and center in the green economy we’re building. The Gotham Foundry is proof that New York City doesn’t just talk about sustainability—we lead.”
Gotham Foundry will begin operations this summer at the Harlem Biospace Expansion site in the Mink building, embedding the hub in the heart of West Harlem. The facility’s permanent home will be located at Columbia University’s new Columbia Engineering building on the Manhattanville campus, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and finish by 2030. The cutting-edge sites will leverage existing infrastructure at ASRC and FIT to accelerate innovation and commercialization of companies. Gotham Foundry will provide space and resources for a diverse group of growth-stage materials companies, and connection between key New York City legacy industries—including, but not limited to, medicine, packaging, construction, fashion—for which biomaterial products and applications will become increasingly prevalent.
Capitalizing on the world-class research across the City’s institutions, the more than 10,000 students who graduate with a degree related to materials science, and the density of end users in industries like fashion and construction, NYCEDC has committed to supporting the growing sustainable materials ecosystem. Gotham Foundry will provide workforce training programs, new production methods for making materials through biology, and “fabrication to shape” using green manufacturing practices. Gotham Foundry will also support startups in the ecosystem by providing pilot opportunities, training and mentorship. These initiatives will bring together innovators, industry verticals, and other key stakeholders in order to grow the ecosystem.
By creating an open access sustainable materials innovation hub, the city will create new workforce opportunities and advance the City’s carbon-neutral goals. Today, the global market for sustainable materials is valued at $358 billion and is expected to grow to $800 billion by 2032. Advancing innovation in sustainable and biobased materials has the potential to revolutionize key industries that drive the city's economy, from fashion and construction to plastics and medical devices.
Given the history of fashion, the sheer number of buildings, and the existing waste stream, New York City has a unique opportunity to connect innovation to industry in a manner few other cities can. Textiles are projected to comprise 26 percent of GHG emissions using 300 million tons of oil by 2050. However, scientists are leveraging the sustainable bioeconomy to bring new innovations to industry and consumers. Materials innovation is occurring at all major New York City institutions. However, a centralized hub with shared equipment, entrepreneurial support, and commercialization support does not exist. Gotham Foundry will provide support to innovators from initial scientific research and discovery to usher in a new generation of solutions, scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs through accelerators, workforce development programs, research laboratories, and programming space.
Today’s announcement builds on the Adams administration’s broader strategy to develop the Harbor of the Future—a reimagined network of innovation and growth across New York City, and fulfills a key commitment in Mayor Adams’ “Green Economy Action Plan,” a first-of-its-kind plan that lays out a roadmap to growing the city’s green economy, invests in jobs and sectors that help the city combat climate change, and positions New Yorkers to benefit from the nearly 400,000 projected green-collar jobs in New York City by 2040.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.