Rabinowitz said that he is devoting the resources that are available at Hofstra to the LIREDC ’s plan in order to make sure it is an efficient report based on solid data. Additionally, he said, a new, nonprofit organization is in the works, and will bring together Long Island research institutions, including Stony Brook, Cold Spring Harbor, Brookhaven, North Shore-LIJ and Hofstra.

The organization, Accelerate Long Island, will help “determine what can be commercialized” on Long Island, and help the LIREDC determine what high-tech, bio-med and research discoveries are marketable, Rabinowitz said. “With the help of our law school and our business school,” he said, “we’re looking to develop startup companies and incubators all throughout the region and hopefully somehow, not only start them up and attract capital, but stay on long and create jobs.”

Perkins said that Cuomo’s plan is unique to the state. The only similar program, he said, is the Empire Zone Program, which enables companies to submit ideas to Albany but does not implement a regional group to come up with ideas collectively, as the council plan does.

According to Cuomo, each of the 10 regional councils will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy and led by two regional co-chairs from the business and academic communities. Local leaders from business, academia, labor, agriculture, and nonprofit and community-based organizations will also be involved.

“These regional councils are an innovative approach to economic development that send a strong message that New York is open for business,” Duffy said. “By building each strategy to the specific needs of New York’s many regions, we are putting our state on the path to future prosperity. Governor Cuomo has said repeatedly that his top priority is keeping and creating jobs in New York, and today’s launch of Long Island’s Regional Council is a major step in the right direction.”