New Jersey: The Innovative State

On May 27, 2015

While the Garden State has long been an innovation leader in spheres such as biopharmaceuticals, telecommunications, military technology and medical technology, in recent years, data centers have increasingly become a part of the state’s landscape. Meanwhile, higher education institutions here are ratcheting up their prowess, helping to create an even more robust “innovation ecosystem,” directly benefiting companies involved with all aspects of research and development, and technology.

New Jersey Business magazine unveils its annual Innovative State issue, in which we not only examine the aforementioned industries and higher education institutions, but – since New Jersey is home to 14 of the world’s 20 largest biopharmaceutical companies – we also preview the 2015 BIO International Convention, to be held this month in nearby Philadelphia. 

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Dear Friends:

On behalf of the State of New Jersey, I am pleased to address business professionals throughout the Garden State in this issue of the New Jersey Business magazine.

New Jersey’s businesses represent the backbone of our state’s economy, and they serve an instrumental role in promoting the vitality and longevity of our communities. Understanding the importance of businesses to our state, our Administration created the New Jersey Partnership for Action (PFA) to help foster an environment that is beneficial for businesses in the area. The PFA is comprised of the Business Action Center, which provides the business community with a single point of contact; the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, serving as the state’s “bank for business;” Choose New Jersey, an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) business-attraction and lead-generation organization that markets the state; and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, which coordinates with New Jersey’s institutions of higher learning to prepare an educated workforce. Through these organizations, New Jersey has attracted new businesses and helped existing businesses thrive by focusing on relationship building through person-to-person outreach, promoting the state’s incentives and resources and assisting businesses in navigating state government and programs. In addition, we have reduced administrative red tape, restrictive mandates and prohibitive taxes to make New Jersey’s business climate more favorable.

Best wishes to all for a successful year.

Sincerely,

Chris Christie
Governor

 

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Dear Friends:

It is a pleasure to join New Jersey Business magazine for its Innovative State issue. New Jersey has proven again and again that it is a true home for innovation, strengthening its legacy with ongoing support for discovery. This issue highlights many of those businesses and organizations that redefine New Jersey’s legacy every day.

We have more scientists and engineers per capita than anywhere else in the world, but we also know that it’s the high quality of those minds that matters most. That’s where New Jersey truly shines. For example, I recently met with several of New Jersey’s Nobel Laureates who have substantially changed the way we have interacted with each other and our world over the last seventy years. New Jersey ranks among the top US life science clusters and among the top states for biotechnology growth potential, space and defense manufacturing and information technology and high technology job growth. Our days of leading innovation are far from over, and a new era is just beginning.

In March, I announced the kick-off of the Million Women Mentors program in New Jersey to recruit 6,000 mentors for young women with an interest in pursuing STEM education and careers. If we encourage the next generation to get enthusiastic about STEM opportunities at an early age, we can equip them with the tools to make the game-changing discoveries of the future and be a major part of our continuing legacy of innovation.

Our future is brighter than ever thanks to all the innovators who have built our past and strengthened our present.

Sincerely,

Kim Guadagno
Lt. Governor

 

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