U.S. graduate education. Cornell's plans for the Big Apple rely on quality, cash, and dreams.

After besting some of the world9s top universities in a months-long competition and winning access to some of the choicest real estate on Earth, Cornell University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology must actually build the applied research university that, they hope, will transform New York City into Silicon Valley East. The new campus, dubbed NYCTech, could support up to 280 faculty members and 2500 students by the 2040s, say Cornell officials. These students and researchers would focus on science, mathematics, and computer science with commercial applications that the city hopes will generate $23 billion in economic activity over 30 years, including $1.4 billion in taxes. Their presence would increase the number of graduate engineering students in New York City by 70%, according to the mayor9s office.