Technology is both the foundation of our global economy and the catalyst for its growth, across all business sectors. Consequently, the arrival of the VOICE Summit, sponsored by Amazon Alexa and hosted by the city of Newark and New Jersey Institute of Technology this Tuesday to Thursday speaks to the importance of NJIT and its home city in the current technology and economic development landscape.
Newark is home to Panasonic, Audible, Verizon, Public Service Enterprise Group, Prudential and many other tech powerhouses that have contributed greatly to Newark’s incredible renaissance and bright future. And, as one of only 32 polytechnic universities throughout the United States, NJIT is producing the technology workforce as well as the breakthroughs in applied research and development that drive economic expansion while partnering with industry in both practical and creative ways to meet its needs.
The VOICE Summit coming to Newark and NJIT is a significant indication of the upward trajectory that our university and city are on together. With an anticipated 1,000-plus attendees, this will be the largest, most high-profile tech gathering in NJIT’s history, and was made possible by the opening of NJIT’s new Wellness & Events Center, the centerpiece of a $400 million campus transformation.
Modev, organizer of the VOICE Summit, chose NJIT and Newark as the event location over Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City. The summit also represents a major collaborative effort between NJIT, the Greater Newark Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Newark Community Economic Development Corp., platinum sponsors Audible, Panasonic, Prudential, Horizon, YEXT and many other valued sponsors.
The VOICE Summit is attracting leaders from the burgeoning field of voice technology, which is rapidly changing how the entire world communicates with computers, machines, cars, home appliances and more, and how those devices communicate with us. VOICE will bring together startup and mature companies, leaders in the industry and developers at the forefront of transformative technology from natural language processing and a broad range of technologies revolutionizing user engagement by leveraging voice technologies such as Alexa, chatbots and so much more.
The event will feature thought leaders from seven countries, more than 150 speakers, and NJIT alumnus David Isbitski ’98, who is Amazon’s chief evangelist for Alexa and Echo and will serve as one of the keynote speakers. In addition to a powerhouse list of presenters that includes tech leaders and statewide dignitaries, hands-on voice development and design courses will be taught by Amazon staff and partner API providers. Bloomberg Radio will be broadcasting live from the VOICE Summit on Tuesday from 2-5 p.m.; Caucus NJ will be recording a program on site; and several national and local media outlets will be at NJIT to chronicle the event.
It’s clear that the tech industry has recognized the value afforded by NJIT and Newark. We are the right place at the right time, and VOICE makes it loud and clear that NJIT and Newark have arrived.
Joel S. Bloom is president of New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. To register for the VOICE Summit, click here.
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