A Partnership Built for Tomorrow: The MIT-GE Vernova Energy and Climate Alliance Kicks Off in Cambridge

"The meaning of life is the next generation," wrote author Grace Paley. For GE Vernova, a company dedicated to building the energy technologies of the future, that next generation of inventors is inseparable from today's mission. Cultivating tomorrow's energy leaders is as critical as the work of electrifying to help communities thrive and decarbonize the world.

That commitment came into focus this week as the MIT-GE Vernova Energy and Climate Alliance officially launched on September 15 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. First announced in spring 2025, the alliance combines GE Vernova's advanced technology expertise with MIT's world-class research to accelerate energy innovation and nurture the next wave of leaders in the power industry.

"What we've started here will ripple across industries and around the world," GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik said.

GE Vernova is committing $50 million over five years to fund research initiatives, student fellowships, internships, educational and professional development programs, and philanthropic projects. Strazik and MIT Provost Anantha Chandrakasan are serving as co-chairs of the alliance, with a joint steering committee guiding its work.

"When our researchers develop new innovative technologies," said Chandrakasan, "GE Vernova is strongly positioned to bring them to global markets."

GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik and MIT Provost Anantha Chandrakasan, co-chairs of the alliance, share a moment on stage. Images credit: GE Vernova

Ready. Set. Research!

At Monday's launch event, the alliance unveiled 13 research projects for the academic year, alongside the first eight endowed fellows. Their work spans computational science, mechanical engineering, nuclear science, data systems, and earth and planetary sciences, among other fields.

The projects fall into four flagship focus areas, aligned with GE Vernova's Sustainability Framework:

• Decarbonization: advancing hydrogen production, developing nuclear fuel cladding, and reducing CO₂ waste in synthesis gas production.
• Electrification: addressing power demand from data centers and applying AI to regulate the electric grid.
• Renewables Acceleration: exploring sustainable wind blade production and solutions to mitigate blade vibration damage.
• Digital Solutions: building autonomous robots for assembly and field inspection.

Students had the opportunity to discuss the latest technology developments with researchers from GE Vernova's Advanced Research Center.

The MIT-GE Vernova Energy and Climate Alliance, managed through MIT's Office of Strategy, brings together faculty, researchers, and students to tackle some of the world's most urgent energy and climate challenges. Students will also gain hands-on experience at GE Vernova's global facilities and connect with career opportunities through a dedicated recruitment and networking program.

GE Vernova Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Roger Martella also spoke at the launch, which drew more than 500 attendees. "We're really good at taking proven technologies and commercializing them and scaling them up through our labs," said Martella, who is part of the alliance's steering committee. "MIT excels at coming up with those ideas and being a sort of time machine that thinks outside the box to create the future. That's why this is such a great fit: We both have a commitment to research, innovation, and technology."

The MIT Alliance web page provides the latest news on the alliance, as well as resources for students, faculty, and industry partners to find out more about internships, fellowships, research collaborations, and industry partnerships. And please visit GE Vernova's Future Leaders of Energy page for news, resources, events, and opportunities to influence the future of energy.