Technology in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh forges a new future, remaking an iconic steel town into a modern innovation factory.
Pittsburgh has undergone a dramatic environmental transformation and technological makeover.. Pittsburgh ranks among the top cities in the United States for green certified building space and is named a top “NextTech” city. Once a center for the production of steel, iron and glass, Pittsburgh is now an advancing leader in medicine, education, health care, robotics, software engineering and high-tech industries. In fact, the Pittsburgh tech sector generated $22B in the last decade according to some reports. More than $687M was invested in Pittsburgh tech companies in 2017 alone.
Pittsburgh Tech Tourism: How to Enjoy Pittsburgh’s Tech Scene
Pittsburgh has grown into a premiere technology hub, incorporating innovative and high-tech experiences for visitors. Take a trip to the National Aviary and "fly like a bird in New York City" at the Birdly Exhibit, a hands-on flight simulation experience. Visit Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center's Roboworld, the world's largest permanent robotics exhibition, and the Fab Lab, a digital fabrication laboratory for innovation and invention, for a unique and educational spin on technology.
It is possible that a visitor can experience the city's tech scene just by walking down the street. Pittsburgh is a leader in the development of self-driving cars from Uber and Argo AI that regularly roam the roads. If you're lucky, your next Uber ride in Pittsburgh might be in an autonomous car!
Explore the science and history of a real Cold War-era Submarine. Go behind the scenes of the USS Requin SS 481 Submarine and take a tech tour into areas rarely seen by the visiting public. See how these amazing vessels and their crew faced life underwater. Explore unrestored compartments, see the conning tower, and check out the periscope. Schedule your visit today!
Coming soon to the Children's Museum is museumlab™, a place where youth eight and older can work with makers to create everything from furniture to apps, experiment with cutting edge technology in the creation of art, climb three stories on a unique sculpture, collaborate on one-of-a-kind art installations and more!
If you're visiting the Carnegie Museums, whip out your phone and cue up your Facebook Messenger app. The new " Andy CarnegieBot" can be your technological guide to the museums and provides you with simulated conversation, trivia, a scavenger hunt, and event reminders.
Explore Pittsburgh's history of innovation at the Duquesne Incline, the oldest running funicular in the United States. Visitors are able to see the machine room and observe the original hoisting equipment from 1877 that is still in operation today. If that's not enough, the top of the Incline presents you with Pittsburgh's most iconic, must-see view of the city!
Pittsburgh's universities are making sure we stay a city to watch when it comes to experiencing technology. The University of Pittsburgh's Innovation Institute serves as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship by encouraging and supporting new discoveries in the industry. The brainpower coming from Carnegie Mellon University has kickstarted a variety of brilliant tech projects, including the Roboceptionist at the university's Newell-Simon Hall.
Education's Role in Pittsburgh's Technology Scene
Carnegie Mellon University: Home to the first emoticon in 1982, CMU is recognized as one of the first computer science programs in the world and continues to rank as one of the top. The university is known to collaborate with companies such as Apple, Intel, Caterpillar and Disney, helping to expand technology ties in Pittsburgh. CMU also houses Tank LeFleur, the Roboceptionist, a receptionist robot that provides information and directions to visitors and students.
University of Pittsburgh: Established in 2013, the University of Pittsburgh launched the Innovation Institute, a hub innovation and entrepreneurship. The Innovation Institute provides various services for Pitt Innovators including protecting intellectual property, commercializing new discoveries, educational programming and mentoring, and more.
Pittsburgh Tech "Firsts"
- First newspaper west of the Alleghenies (1789) - The Pittsburgh Gazette
- First Ferris Wheel (1893)
- First Motion Picture Theater in U.S. (1905) – Nickelodeon
- World's First Commercial Radio Station (1920) - KDKA
- First All-Aluminum Building (1953) - Regional Enterprise Tower (formerly the Alcoa Building)
- First Polio Vaccine (1954) - Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh
- First U.S. Public Television Station (1954) - WQED
- First Retractable Dome (1961) - Mellon Arena
- First Mass Transit Busway System (1964) - Allegheny County Port Authority
- First Robotics Center (1979) - Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute
- First Internet Emoticon, the smiley :-) (1982) - Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Scott Fahlman
- First Gold and Platinum LEED®-Certified Convention Center (2004, 2012) – David L. Lawrence Convention Center
- First Gold LEED®-Certified NHL Arena (2012) – PPG Paints Arena
Pittsburgh Technology In The News
- Andy CarnegieBot is live at the Carnegie Museums - Pittsburgh Post Gazette
- New teen tech center opens in East Liberty - Trib Live
- Marble co-founder and CMU grad says Pittsburgh can be 'Silicon Valley of robotics' - Trib Live
- Turn walls into a giant touch screen with this paint developed by CMU and Disney - Trib Live
- Carnegie Mellon lab cleared for take-off at Pittsburgh International Airport - Trib Live
- Pittsburgh International Airport, Carnegie Mellon University Partner To Form Aviation Innovation Laboratory - PR Newswire
- Top schools for AI: New study ranks the leading U.S. artificial intelligence grad programs - GeekWire
- 2018's Best & worst metro areas for STEM professionals - WalletHub
- Pittsburgh Gets a Tech Makeover - The New York Times
- $15M donation established CMU's Block Center for Technology and Society - Trib Live
- Major tech companies Google, Amazon, Uber give back to Pittsburgh - Trib Live
- Pittsburgh's thriving tech sector brings new life to post-industrial city – The Guardian
- 10 cities living in the future – CNN tech
- The cities creating the most tech jobs 2017– Forbes
- 4 U.S. tech hubs to watch in 2018 – Venturebeat
- How the once-struggling Pittsburgh is reinventing itself as an innovation hub – Next City
- Pittsburgh forges a new future, remaking iconic steel town into a modern innovation factory – Geekwire
- Boston's going to the Super Bowl, but Pittsburgh will win Amazon – Boston Globe
- Ford investing $1 billion in Pittsburgh autonomous research company – Pittsburgh Post Gazette
- Why Pittsburgh is Ideal for robotics businesses – Robotics Business Review
- The 5 best big cities - Money Magazine
- Top 10 cities where techies should consider moving to in 2016 - Huffington Post
- Eat your heart out in these 10 up-and-coming foodie cities - Realtor.com
- Tech Startups Surprised to Find Pittsburgh's Assets Add Up - Pittsburgh Post Gazette
- Pittsburgh Takes on Tech - PYMNTS.com
Notable Corporate Offices In Pittsburgh
- Alcoa
- Allegheny Energy
- Allegheny Health Network
- Amazon
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Apple
- Atlas Energy
- Bayer Corporation
- Consol Energy
- Dollar Bank
- Education Management Corporation
- EQT
- Facebook - Research Facility
- Google - Corporate Campus
- GNC
- Heinz
- Highmark
- Mellon Financial
- PG Industries
- PNC Financial Services
- Uber: Advanced Technologies Center; Advanced Technologies Group; Greenlight Hub; Self-driving Car Test Track
- U.S. Steel
Pittsburgh Tech Headquarters
4moms: Company that creates high-tech strollers and other baby accessories embedded with robotics and additional patented technology features.
Alphalab: Software accelerator that helps early-stage tech companies quickly figure out the best way to build and grow in an immersive funding program.
Anglr Labs: Specializes in tech savvy fishing products; mobile app and online platform that allows users to track and log their fishing trips; developed the AngLR Tracker, named one of the top five new fishing electronics in 2017.
Argo AI: Software company that develops applications for self-driving transportation.
Astrobotic: From Pittsburgh to the Moon! Astrobotic opened the doors to its new lunar logistics headquarters in Pittsburgh. The 47,000 square foot complex is the largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics.
Diamond Kinetics: A sports tech company that created the Swingtracker and Batfitter, two devices designed to enhance the performance of baseball players with extensive performance data.
Duolingo: Online language learning platform; was Apple’s best free iPhone app in 2013.
GeekWire HQ2: A national technology news site that provides breaking news, expert analysis and unique insights into the technology industry.
Jazz: Applicant tracking system; the first company to put powerful, easy-to-use recruiting software in the hands of startups, growing companies and presidential campaigns.
Niche: Online site that helps discover colleges, K-12 schools, neighborhoods, cities and suburbs.
RoBotany: A startup that is transforming modern indoor agriculture with automated robotics and software analytics.