October 7, 2025 – Niskayuna, New York – The GE Aerospace Foundation announced today its partnership with University at Albany – State University of New York and Schenectady’s Museum of Innovation & Science (miSci) and NY CREATES to launch the Next Engineers program in the New York Capital Region. As a key location in the continued expansion of Next Engineers, New York will play a vital role in inspiring and preparing the next generation of engineering leaders.
“We are proud to inspire and train the next generation of engineering professionals in the New York Capital Region, where GE Aerospace’s roots stretch back for over a century,” said Germaine Hunter, Vice President, Workplace & Employee Experience at GE Aerospace. “Nearly 1,000 employees help advance the future of flight at the GE Aerospace Research Center where ideas become reality, making it a fitting location as we continue growing our Next Engineers program—a key part of our philanthropic commitment to empowering and supporting the communities we serve.”
Programming in New York will include Engineering Discovery for early secondary school students and Engineering Academy for older students preparing for higher education. Students in the Academy will engage in immersive design challenges, career coaching, and college-readiness workshops. Eligible participants who complete the Academy and pursue engineering degrees will also have access to scholarships. Programming begins in early 2026, with the goal of reaching 4,000 students in the New York Capital Region over four years.
“We’re incredibly proud to join with the University at Albany and the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady to launch Next Engineers right here in New York’s Capital Region, where America’s first industrial research lab was established,” said Joe Vinciquerra, General Manager and Senior Executive Director, GE Aerospace Research Center. “We know firsthand the impact thousands of engineers can have in changing people’s lives for the better and through Next Engineers, we will help cultivate talent to address the world’s biggest technological challenges.”
Next Engineers equips students ages 13 to 18 with hands-on learning experiences, career exposure, and college preparation to encourage them to pursue engineering careers. With more than 26,000 students reached globally to date, the program aims to grow the pipeline of young talent entering the engineering field.
“For nearly two centuries, the University at Albany has been a powerhouse of academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and purposeful action,” said Havidán Rodríguez, President of the University at Albany. “We are thrilled to partner with GE Aerospace to spark interest in STEM, and to help educate the next generation of engineers to tackle society’s toughest challenges, answer its most pressing questions, and drive solutions to its most complex problems.”
“NY Creates is excited to support this positive initiative enabling experiential learning for students in the Capital Region to expand the critical innovation-centered pipeline which underpins the growth of high-tech companies across New York State and beyond,” said Dr. Robert Geer, NY Creates Vice President for Workforce Development and Education. “We are thrilled to partner with GE Aerospace, the University at Albany, and MiSci to deliver programming that will lead to tangible results for countless students, unlocking lifelong career opportunities as we leverage our workforce development network with our partners to inspire the next generation of talent.”
“Schenectady’s Museum of Innovation & Science (miSci) has been sparking curiosity and igniting innovation in local students for decades,” said Chris Hunter, President of miSci. “As a center for learning, imagination, and creativity, miSci is excited to inspire the next generation of students through the Next Engineers program.”
“As an engineer, I know how life-changing it can be when young people see what’s possible,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “Programs like Next Engineers spark that curiosity — turning ideas into career paths and classrooms into launchpads for the future. It’s exciting to see this happening right here in Schenectady, a city built on innovation, where the next generation of engineers will write the next chapter of that story.”
Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and 75th anniversary at its Niskayuna research facility, the GE Aerospace Research Center carries forward a proud legacy of innovation that has helped to shape society. From Thomas Edison’s invention of the incandescent light bulb and pioneering advancements in medical imaging and power generation to advanced aircraft propulsion technologies, its scientists and engineers are the driving force behind technologies that change the world.
The New York Capital Region is the latest location to join the Next Engineers initiative, following recent expansions to Bengaluru, India and Warsaw, Poland. The original Next Engineers programs are located in Cincinnati, Ohio; Greenville, South Carolina; Staffordshire, UK and Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2024, the GE Aerospace Foundation committed $20 million through 2030 to expand Next Engineers and will add a final city in 2026.
Students, families, and schools interested in learning more can visit: https://www.nextengineers.org/locations/newyork
Read the full press release here: GE Aerospace Foundation Launches Next Engineers with University at Albany, miSci and NYCreates in New York’s Capital Region | GE Aerospace News
