Did you know that nearly half the climate solutions needed to reach net-zero by 2050 are still under development or need to be built? At The Exchange, we believe that innovations emerging from university labs and classrooms represent a critical pipeline of climate solutions, and we are determined to put these innovations on a path to market. 

Deep technologies – many born out of university-based R&D – will play a pivotal role in decarbonizing the economy. From replacing fossil fuel-based products and materials with bio-based alternatives to harnessing the energy of our oceans for power, and electrifying transportation and the built environment, these breakthroughs have immense potential. Yet, many of them are held up in research, lacking a pathway for implementation and real-world application.

On April 19, The Exchange welcomed 17 winners of the 2025 NYCHA Resident Climate Action Grant Program to Governors Island. The winners, representing all five boroughs, participated in a workshop and celebration co-hosted by the Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF).