Research with NJ Honored for Fostering Innovation within the Garden State

NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan (at podium) joins Research with NJ partners in accepting NJ Tech Council's Collaborator of the Year award.
 

Research with NJ, an online database spearheaded by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the State’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, won Collaborator of the Year for its efforts to drive economic activity by facilitating and encouraging collaboration between industry and academia. The portal can be found at www.researchwithnj.com.

Research with NJ provides local, national, and international commercial enterprises, ranging from entrepreneurs and start-ups to global corporations, with insight into groundbreaking research taking place within the state’s network of research universities. This includes information on subject matter experts, facilities, publications, intellectual property, news, and events that can help Research with NJ users forge partnerships and build innovative new businesses and products based on the latest scientific and technological breakthroughs.

“Making New Jersey the State of Innovation is the cornerstone of Governor Phil Murphy’s plan for a stronger and fairer economy, and fostering collaboration between the state’s academic researchers and our robust technology and life sciences community is an essential step toward that goal,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Sullivan said. “The Research with NJ portal provides a window into the groundbreaking developments taking place within our esteemed research universities, allowing commercial entities to access a vast body of knowledge and talent.”

Research with NJ currently includes nearly 3,500 faculty profiles from five public and private universities — New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Rowan University, Rutgers—the State University of New Jersey, and Stevens Institute of Technology. Additionally, data from Montclair State University, which was designated as a research university in 2017, is now being integrated into the Research with NJ database.

Potential Research with NJ users include businesses seeking experts to partner with for a business venture or research initiative; global corporations considering relocating or expanding into New Jersey wanting to determine if a suitable academic environment exists to support research and development (R&D) growth and workforce development; prospective post-graduate students exploring academic programs in a specific STEM field; and investors seeking business opportunities verifying the credentials of a specific researcher involved in a start-up business under consideration.

“New Jersey is home to some of the finest academic institutions in the world,” Secretary of Higher Education Zakiya Smith Ellis said. “Research with NJ provides a one-stop shop for innovators looking to benefit from the ground-breaking work being done at these top-notch universities.

Research with NJ was developed under the leadership of an Advisory Board consisting of the participating research universities and industry representatives from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, Choose New Jersey, BioNJ, the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, the R&D Council of New Jersey, and the Tech Council. The Advisory Board provides oversight and recommendations to ensure the portal’s sustainability and success.

Several NJEDA-supported companies were also honored at last night’s Tech Council ceremony. These include Apprentice.io, which was approved earlier this year for an NJ Covest Fund loan, TerraCycle, which previously benefited from the NJEDA’s Net Operating Loss Program as well as the Edison Innovation Fund, and Modern Meadow, which moved its headquarters from Brooklyn to the former Roche Campus in Nutley with the support of Grow New Jersey (Grow NJ) tax credits. Other honorees approved for Grow NJ tax credits include Maestro Technologies, which has established its headquarters in Trenton, and Mars Wrigley, which is expanding its presence in New Jersey.

JumpStart New Jersey Angel Network Executive Director Katherine O’Neill also received an award for her support of emerging companies within the Garden State. O’Neill regularly participates in the NJEDA’s New Jersey Founders & Funders events, which connect investors like her with early-stage technology and life sciences companies.

“Governor Murphy has laid out a clear vision for re-establishing New Jersey as a leader in innovation,” NJ Tech Council President and CEO James Barrood said. “The innovators honored last night embody the entrepreneurial spirit necessary to turn that vision into a reality.”

About Us
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy.  Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn about the multitude of resources available to help technology and life sciences companies thrive, visit https://www.njeda.gov/tls and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.