The University of Alaska Board of Regents voted on Aug. 4 to eliminate higher tuition rates for out-of-state students. The unanimous vote is expected to be finalized in November, when the regents will set tuition rates for the 2027-28 academic year. University finance officials said the change is not expected to significantly reduce revenue, but it could help the University attract more students from outside Alaska.
On Aug. 7, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Empire AI Beta—the state’s initiative to advance artificial intelligence for public good—is officially online, giving researchers at New York's leading public and private universities access to the most powerful academic research computer in the nation. Building upon Empire AI Alpha, launched in 2024, the Beta version will accelerate work across fields such as health care, climate science, advanced manufacturing, education, cybersecurity, public safety, and other areas that directly benefit New Yorkers.
New York’s Empire State Development recently announced that it is soliciting Request for Proposals as part of the state’s efforts to expand on its existing quantum research ecosystem. The initiative aims to establish up to four quantum technology commercialization hubs across the state, and address the broader challenge of moving innovations from universities and laboratories into commercially viable companies and products. Selected organizations may receive up to $60 million to turn research into startups, market-ready products and industry applications. Only one hub will be selected in each of New York’s economic development regions. According to the announcement, while each hub would maintain a primary specialization—such as quantum computing, sensing or communications—it would also be expected to support work across other areas of quantum technology.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State University, Team Pennsylvania, and Innovation Works, has launched the Keystone AgTech Alliance. The Alliance aims to accelerate agricultural innovation statewide by aligning private industry, research institutions, and government toward a shared goal of making Pennsylvania a leader in farmer and ag-focused technologies. The Alliance will also support Shapiro’s recently announced Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, which allocates $30 million in the state’s FY 2027 budget to help farmers adopt cutting-edge technologies and strengthen the growth and competitiveness of Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector.
On Aug. 10, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order establishing the Utah Quantum Initiative to position the state to compete for quantum computing investment and infrastructure. The initiative will be co-led by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and the Nucleus Institute as a key element of the state’s economic strategy. The order also creates a Quantum Coordination Council composed of state officials and representatives from higher education, the legislature, industry and government. According to the order, the Council’s top priorities include positioning Utah as a leader in quantum hardware integration, building a “quantum-ready” workforce, advancing commercialization, and successfully securing federal funding.