Saving Lives Globally While Finding Cures in NJ

On Jun 19, 2025

New Jersey’s life sciences companies – including our biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and diagnostics companies – have been saving patients’ lives worldwide for over a century by discovering new treatments and cures right here in New Jersey. That’s why our state is regarded as the “Medicine Chest of the World.” 

Life sciences companies like these have driven incredible medical advances for generations. Recently, they have cured hepatitis C for the first time in history, developed vaccines for cervical cancer, Ebola, and COVID-19, developed the first treatment to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, developed the first-ever gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease, and made strides in treating rare diseases and cancer treatments. New Jersey’s life sciences sector is curing diseases and improving human health for patients everywhere.

These companies also serve as the beating heart of New Jersey’s workforce and economy. With over 1,700 life sciences facilities across the state, they support 369,000 jobs and contribute a staggering $130 billion to the state’s economic activity each year. This industry represents nearly 20% of the state’s gross domestic product.

But it’s not just the life sciences. New Jersey has been at the forefront of science, innovation, and discovery for generations, which is how we’ve earned the title of the “Innovation State.” This reputation stems from New Jersey’s rich legacy of driving America’s and the world’s innovation – from steam engines to breweries, from antibiotics to lightbulbs, and from the telegraph to CAR-T therapies. With more scientists and engineers per square mile than anywhere else on Earth, our state has been leading or heavily involved in groundbreaking fields such as pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, medical technology, nanotechnology, transportation, biotech, and numerous other vital scientific pursuits. 

What makes our state one of the world’s leading hubs for science and technology? Why is New Jersey recognized not only as the “Garden State” but also as the “Innovation State?” 

New Jersey’s economy is powered by our state’s innovation ecosystem, which comprises numerous key stakeholders who each provide vital components that, when combined, lead the world in science and discovery.

New Jersey boasts some of the most highly skilled and well-trained workers found anywhere – those men and women who construct the intricate and complex research and development or manufacturing facilities: clean rooms, cold storage facilities, laboratories, industrial-strength centrifuges, and cell gene manufacturing plants. We possess one of the most valuable workforces in the world.

It’s also thanks to our state’s higher education community – New Jersey boasts some of the finest and most respected academic institutions globally, featuring widely acclaimed and renowned research partnerships between industry and these colleges and universities.

Along with our higher ed community, our state hosts a number of global innovation leaders, be they research institutions, teaching hospitals or centers for innovation, all collaborating on advances that drive global innovation.

New Jersey also boasts a powerful manufacturing sector. The training provided at our community colleges and vocational schools, along with partnerships formed with them, enables companies, industries, and our business community to collaborate with state and county economic development agencies. This collaboration aims to strengthen our skilled manufacturing workforce as we transition into a new era of advanced technological manufacturing. 

These partnerships operate within the framework established by our state’s legislative and policy thought leaders. They create and implement the overall strategy needed from a policy and regulatory perspective to retain our current innovation talent and attract new investments to New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem.

Collectively, these individual but powerful components harmonize and integrate into a robust innovation ecosystem that powers not only our state’s economy, but also the medical and technological advances that make our family members, friends, and neighbors across the street and around the world, safer. New Jersey’s global leadership has stood for the past century and will continue for another.

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