New Jersey planning start-up incubator in New Brunswick

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said a planned research and innovation center in New Brunswick could be a place for high-growth startup companies to thrive and boost the state’s economy.

New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill said a city-owned site in the downtown area is earmarked for the project. “As a center for innovation for health care, biosciences, technology, artificial intelligence, big data, and analytics this offers the state of New Jersey an unparalleled opportunity for development.,” said Cahill.

Barry Ostrowsky, the president and CEO of RWJ Barnabas Health, said the innovation center will help attract the scientists to expand health care research. “This couldn’t be more timely. I don’t think there’s an industry frankly in our nation more in need of innovation, more in need of outstanding new ideas to ensure that those that we serve receive the kind of support in daily lives or in illness that they need,” said Ostrowsky. 

Rutgers University president Robert Barchi said it’s one of the most important potential projects in the state, “I’m certainly committed to producing the workforce for the future, but we’re also deeply committed to producing the ideas for the future. And it’s that idea economy, that technology, that new innovation, that needs to get out to the surrounding community,” said Barchi.

Gov. Murphy said development of the site is in the earliest stages of a years-long process that will require multiple partners. “Rutgers research renown is unparalleled. We think this an opportunity to take it to yet another level. It’s an opportunity in the private sector not just to attract the big players like Johnson and Johnson but also to turn that needle aggressively in the startup community,” said Murphy.

Murphy said it’s too soon to tell how much the project might cost.