Rutgers and Economic Development Authority sign research agreement
Archived article from Oct 30, 1998
By Harvey Trabb
An agreement announced Oct. 22 between Rutgers and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will pave the way for new collaboration on research projects between the university and New Jersey businesses to spur the growth of high-tech industries in the state.
Under the agreement, negotiated by Rutgers' Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, emerging-technology businesses that are tenants at the EDA's Technology Centre of New Jersey in North Brunswick will be able to interact with Rutgers researchers and access university resources such as laboratories, libraries and scientific equipment on a fee-for-use basis. There also will be opportunities for internships and job placements for Rutgers students at Tech Centre firms and participation in continuing-education programs for Tech Centre tenants. The Tech Centre is on Route 1 near the university's New Brunswick campus.
"Productive partnerships between Rutgers, government agencies and the New Jersey business community are important to the health and vitality of the state economy and to our ability to help educate the highly skilled work force of the future," said President Francis L. Lawrence at a news conference held at Cook College to announce the agreement.
"Our strategic-planning efforts of the last several years underscore the university's commitment to the development of new technologies and their successful application to New Jersey business and industry. This agreement is an important addition to these efforts," he said.
New Jersey Commerce Secretary Gualberto Medina noted that "having the resources of a premier academic research institution like Rutgers available to the businesses at the EDA's Tech Centre is a tremendous enhancement. This gives the state another critical lever in attracting businesses of the future to New Jersey and making us the research mecca for the region."
The Tech Centre is a state-of-the-art facility where emerging-technology companies can lease affordable space, explained EDA Chair Anthony R. Coscia. Currently, 130,000 square feet of space is leased to businesses representing the health-care, biosciences and information-technology industries.
"The purpose of the center is to support the business development of new technologies that result in high-quality jobs and a stronger economy for New Jersey," Coscia said. "This unprecedented alliance with Rutgers will give the Tech Centre's tenants tremendous resources they would otherwise have difficulty accessing. It affords them the opportunity to reduce the time and money spent on their research and development, and realize the economic benefits more quickly."
The news conference included presentations by three start-up companies already working cooperatively with Rutgers in relationships of the type that could be developed under the new agreement.
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