Newlab Expands to New Orleans with Innovation Hub Launch

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Artist's impression of the Newlab New Orleans hub, a center for innovation and energy technology.

News Summary

Newlab has announced its expansion into Louisiana with the Newlab New Orleans innovation hub, set to launch on May 12, 2025. This hub will focus on advancing technologies in industrial power, carbon management, and shipping innovations to bolster the state’s energy sector. Collaborating with several partners, including Louisiana Economic Development and Shell, Newlab aims to create jobs and foster economic growth. The facility will serve as a central hub for startup companies and is expected to impact Louisiana’s economy significantly by 2026.

New Orleans – Newlab, a globally recognized venture platform, announced its expansion into Louisiana with the launch of Newlab New Orleans on May 12, 2025. This new innovation hub is set to focus on advancing technologies crucial for the reindustrialization and diversification of Louisiana’s energy sector.

The Newlab New Orleans initiative is a collaborative effort involving a public-private partnership among Louisiana Economic Development (LED), the City of New Orleans, Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL, an NSF Engine), Louisiana State University (LSU), Greater New Orleans, Inc., and Shell. This strategic partnership aims to foster innovation in three primary areas: industrial power technologies, carbon management and utilization, and shipping and maritime innovations.

Industrial power technologies will include advancements in low-cost hydrogen production, low-carbon energy generation, thermal electrification, and enhancing the resiliency of the power grid. In terms of carbon management, the hub will focus on technologies that promote carbon removal and point-source carbon capture, converting CO2 into valuable products. Lastly, shipping and maritime innovations will address improvements in port infrastructure and technologies aimed at reducing emissions.

The hub will be established at a revitalized site within the Naval Support Activity (NSA) complex, which formerly served as a logistics center for the U.S. Navy. This location, covering 1.5 million square feet, is strategically positioned at the confluence of the Intercoastal Industrial Canal and the Mississippi River, making it an ideal base for the new hub.

Newlab New Orleans seeks to activate this historic naval site, transforming it into a central hub for startup companies and contributing significantly to economic growth in Louisiana. The facility is designed to provide industrial scale-up spaces, enabling startups to fabricate, assemble, and test high-tech demonstration-scale technologies right in the heart of New Orleans.

The initiative aims to establish a statewide network of demonstration sites and regulatory sandboxes to facilitate the testing of various startup technologies. David Belt, who co-founded Newlab, pointed out that Louisiana’s competitive advantages in the energy sector are vital to the growth and success of this project. By fostering an environment conducive to innovation, Newlab New Orleans is expected to create new jobs, attract technology companies, and position Louisiana as a key player in the global low-carbon economy.

This establishment follows Newlab’s recent expansion efforts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly with the initiation of Newlab Riyadh. Newlab has previously demonstrated its ability to revitalize underused properties in the U.S. into bustling centers for emerging technologies and job creation, with successful models already in place in Brooklyn and Detroit.

In a bid to personalize its approach, Newlab New Orleans has already formed partnerships with nine startups through U.S. Department of Energy initiatives focused on clean hydrogen and carbon management technologies. Moreover, the hub is expected to complement existing local resources such as the Idea Village and the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, specifically targeting manufacturing and sectors requiring large-scale machinery.

The funding for Newlab New Orleans is part of a comprehensive public-private alliance, incorporating contributions from both local and state government entities, as well as LSU and industry leaders like Shell. The project is on track for completion by the fall of 2026, promising to significantly impact Louisiana’s economic landscape and its role in global energy innovation.