GE Vernova unveiled a new research and development campus in Niskayuna, New York, accelerating small modular reactor (SMR) commercialization.

GE Vernova has unveiled its new Frontier Campus research and development facility in Niskayuna. The campus will focus on research spanning data center power management, AI-integrated manufacturing, wind turbines, and carbon capture technology.

The facility is equipped with advanced simulators and laboratories for prototype testing, including a chamber capable of simulating various outdoor conditions by adjusting temperature, air flow, humidity, and dust levels.

"We can take technology that's developed at universities, that's developed internally, but we can actually put it out in the field," said Krishna Jonnalagadda, GE Vernova chief technology officer. "We have this capacity to do that, working with our customers. So that's a big part of what we do."

The company plans to add 75 new research employees, with most working at the new campus. Research work began at the facilities in January, with hundreds of researchers expected to work there as operations ramp up.

GE Vernova invested nearly $100 million in the new facilities, supported by approximately $10 million in state tax credits.

According to GE Vernova Vice President of Advanced Research Dave Vernooy, the AI technologies developed at the Frontier Campus will transform work across many sectors of the economy, though he does not anticipate job losses in upstate New York.

"It's really about — instead of elimination — augmentation," Vernooy said. "So, you'll see these technologies working in partnership with the people in these factories to make their jobs — maybe more effective would be one way to say it, and they may be able to do more things that they weren't doing before."

The campus' visitor and security centers are still under construction, with work on power infrastructure ongoing. Vernooy indicated that the facility will continue to evolve to meet the company's needs.

"I would say this campus, just like the company, is constantly going to be a work in progress," Vernooy said. "As the needs of the company evolve in terms of R&D, we'll be looking at what to do on this campus, OK? So ... you can imagine that happening over a long period of time."