IBM has collaborated with New York's Marist University to launch an Innovation Incubator, deploying an IBM z17 mainframe to support AI research projects across multiple faculties.

The partnership will connect university students and researchers with IBM subject matter experts, while allowing them to develop and test AI applications on the z17 mainframe.

The projects aim to address “societal, business, and community challenges,” the partners said in a statement, and will initially focus on AI use cases across marketing and business, financial management, and civic engagement.

First unveiled in April 2025, the z17 features a second-generation on-chip AI accelerator built on the IBM Telum II processor and a 32-core IBM Spyre accelerator. It can reportedly process 50 percent more AI inference operations per day than its predecessor, the z16.

At launch, IBM said the z17 mainframe had been engineered specifically to support AI capabilities and was the result of five years of development.

"At Marist, we believe the future of higher education lies at the intersection of academic excellence and meaningful industry engagement," said Marist president Kevin Weinman. "Our longstanding relationship with IBM has always distinguished Marist as a place where students gain access to cutting-edge technology and applied learning experiences. Today, we're building on that foundation to create new opportunities in artificial intelligence, research, and innovation that span the entire university."

Tina Tarquinio, chief product officer for IBM Z and LinuxONE, added: "Academic institutions have long been an important part of the IBM Z ecosystem, bringing new ideas and perspectives to the platform. I’m especially excited to see IBM and Marist, two longstanding leaders in the Mid-Hudson Valley community, build on this partnership. By combining IBM’s technology expertise with Marist’s commitment to innovation and student success, we’re creating new pathways for research, learning, and workforce development that prepare students for the future."