NJIT to Convene Industry, Government and Academic Leaders for Infrastructure Forum

Published: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
The forum will focus on workforce, innovation, and coordination between academia, industry and government.

New Jersey Institute of Technology will host an Infrastructure Forum, a one-day convening of industry, government and academic stakeholders focused on strengthening collaboration across sectors to address workforce needs, accelerate applied research and advance infrastructure innovation.

The forum will examine how deeper coordination between academia and industry can help close critical gaps in talent development, research translation and technology adoption. Programming will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions and legislative perspectives spanning transportation, energy, water, construction and emerging technologies.

As infrastructure systems grow more complex and workforce demands evolve, universities and industry increasingly rely on one another to develop talent and bring new technologies to market. The Infrastructure Forum provides a dedicated setting to align priorities, share advances and identify opportunities for deeper, sustained collaboration across sectors.

Highlights include:

  • An industry keynote on the value of sustained university–industry partnerships (Nick DeNichilo, Vice Co-Chair, NJIT Board of Trustees; former CEO, Mott MacDonald)
  • Senator Paul Sarlo will be moderating a panel on transportation agencies, which includes NJ Department of Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain, and Rizwan Baig, Chief Engineer, Port Authority of NY and NJ
  • A keynote on the 2025 American Society of Civil Engineers Report Card for America’s Infrastructure (Maria Lehman, Interim Executive Director, ASCE)
  • Legislative perspectives on transportation and infrastructure policy, including remarks from Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese and Senator Andrew Zwicker
  • A keynote on cybersecurity and infrastructure risk (Lucian Niemeyer, Managing Executive, Nadsco Tech; CEO, Building Cyber Security)
  • Panel discussions featuring leaders from transportation agencies, utilities, architecture and engineering firms, construction and academia
  • A networking reception with showcase exhibitions

WHEN:
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. (Key programming begins at 9 a.m.)

WHERE:
NJIT Campus Center, Ballroom A/B (2nd Floor), Newark, New Jersey

REGISTRATION and INFORMATION:
https://www.njit.edu/development/InfrastructureForum