BATWorks

BATWorks will grow NYC’s climate tech ecosystem, accelerate the commercialization of climate technologies, and build shared prosperity for New Yorkers to advance a Just Transition.

A cutting-edge climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, BATWorks will anchor a growing ecosystem along the New York Harbor for new climate technologists, entrepreneurs, and talent working to develop, pilot, and deploy new solutions to combat the effects of climate change.

Led by LACI and Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), BATWorks will enable emerging market innovators, small and medium sized companies, and growth-stage and commercialization-stage companies to build and rapidly prototype products, provide business support using the fit for-purpose space, and carry out product research and development. In addition to specialized lab facilities, it will also offer work and convening spaces. BATWorks will also provide workforce training for green economy jobs to New Yorkers, with a particular focus on individuals in Sunset Park and surrounding communities.

The Future at BATWorks

Temporary facilities and programming are set to begin in 2025, with the hub launching in 2028.

Bringing over a decade of leadership and developing a unique model of working with startups, the City of Los Angeles, and other public and private sector partners, LACI will lead piloting of startup innovations at BATWorks as well as advise on related climate programming and host related events focused on founder networking, city and startup exchanges, equitable workforce pathways, and regulatory wayfinding to commercialization. Future programming at BATWorks will include green job training to create equitable workforce pathways for New Yorkers to access green-collar jobs and business development services to accelerate both startup and incumbent climate innovation businesses.

LACI has developed the City Climate Innovation Challenge (the Challenge), a unique model of accelerating innovation in cities, by helping cities identify, vet, implement and pilot new sustainable solutions that address local needs. BATWorks will serve as the first Challenge test bed outside of Los Angeles.

CIC will work with NYCEDC to design the work and lab space, and will provide day-to-day management and operations of the nearly 200K-SF hub. BATWorks will include cutting-edge facilities—from prototyping labs to specialized testing platforms. Operating on three continents, CIC creates, builds, and operates leading  office and lab spaces paired with mission-aligned events and programming that support innovation and attract top entrepreneurs, startups, and enterprises.

The Urgent Need for a Climate Innovation Hub

In February 2024, the Adams administration released the Green Economy Action Plan (GEAP), which outlines the City’s commitments to drive robust and equitable growth in the local green economy. This plan outlines several City-led actions that will complement private sector activity to grow the local climate technology ecosystem including de-risking emerging technologies; attracting and growing leading green economy businesses and private sector investment; building real estate for climate tech companies to grow, prototype, and pilot new technologies; and developing world-class talent for industry.

As a key initiative of the GEAP, NYCEDC is launching BATWorks, a premier climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal as an adaptive reuse project.

Growing NYC's Climate Innovation Ecosystem with the Harbor Climate Collaborative

The Harbor Climate Collaborative, one of the marquee initiatives outlined in the Green Economy Action Plan, is a joint initiative between three mission-aligned public entities with sites along the New York Harbor—the Trust for Governors Island (TGI), New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) including BATWorks at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC). The Collaborative will be the center of a burgeoning climate innovation ecosystem in New York City.

With over $725 million in public investments for the green economy at NYCEDC’s Sunset Park District, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and on Governors Island, the partnering institutions will support climate innovators through piloting, tenanting, regulatory coordination, workforce development, knowledge/data sharing, fundraising, and facilitating access to City agencies.

By unlocking six million square feet of space, the Harbor Climate Collaborative will support the creation of 5,000 permanent jobs, educate and train 2,100 students, and generate $55 billion of economic impact. The Collaborative will leverage each of the partner’s expertise in research and climate education, business support for emerging companies and solutions, preparing New Yorkers for well-paying jobs, and to provide a home for new and existing businesses to scale in New York City’s growing the green economy.