The new Health + Life Science Exchange or HELIX campus in New Brunswick will span some 1.5 million square feet of innovation, office, residential and retail and restaurant space near the junction of Albany and Spring streets. — Renderings by Elkus Manfredi Architects / Courtesy: New Brunswick Development Corp.
By Joshua Burd
Johnson & Johnson is lending its name to what will be an iconic new public space and a key piece of the emerging HELIX campus in its hometown of New Brunswick.
According to Portal Innovations and New Brunswick Development Corp., the operator and developer of the new project’s new 30,000-square-foot science incubator, respectively, the health care giant has secured naming rights to the facility’s central commons area. The space will now be known as the Johnson & Johnson Exchange at the New Jersey Innovation Hub, hosting a wide range of events annually such as community gatherings, founder programming and investor discussions aimed at fostering collaboration across academia, startups and industry leaders.
J&J will also sponsor targeted, high-impact innovation initiatives at NJIH — slated to open this spring within HELIX’s 12-story, 574,000-square-foot first phase — demonstrating its support for strengthening New Brunswick’s vibrant entrepreneurial and life sciences landscape.
“My administration is committed to transforming New Jersey into the destination for startups and entrepreneurs to set up shop,” Gov. Mikie Sherrill said. “By expanding resources to support budding enterprises and investing in Strategic Innovation Centers like HELIX, we are driving life-changing breakthroughs in the health and life sciences sector and cementing our state’s reputation as a thriving innovation hub.
“I am thrilled that HELIX will host this collaboration between Johnson & Johnson, Portal Innovations and DEVCO, which will create jobs and sustain critical economic growth within our region.”
Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Joaquin Duato added: “For 140 years, New Jersey has been home to Johnson & Johnson and a launchpad for health care innovation that changes lives around the world. The Johnson & Johnson Exchange at the New Jersey Innovation Hub reflects our belief that great ideas can come from anywhere, and that when industry, entrepreneurs and academia come together, we can accelerate medical breakthroughs to deliver better outcomes for patients, support job creation and drive economic growth across New Jersey.”
According to Devco, partnerships between companies like J&J incubators such as NJIH allow organizations to gain early insights into novel technologies, identify and nurture future acquisition targets and strengthen ties with entrepreneurs and emerging industry talent. It’s also an example for driving meaningful impact in the rapidly evolving life sciences sector and reinforces the company’s role in shaping the future of health care innovation in New Jersey.
Devco is developing NJIH as part of HELIX, the 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use innovation district that brings together research, health care, education, and industry partners near the junction of Albany and Spring streets and across from the New Brunswick train station. The second phase will include a new 10-story, 370,000-square-foot tower for Nokia Bell Labs that is under construction just south H-1 as part of a partnership with SJP Properties, while Devco is eyeing a third phase with a 42-story building with offices, lab spaces, housing for Rutgers medical students and 265 apartments.
“DEVCO is proud to partner with Portal Innovations and Johnson & Johnson on a project that aligns so closely with New Jersey’s vision for inclusive economic growth and innovation-led development,” said Chris Paladino, Devco’s president. “The Johnson & Johnson Exchange will be a cornerstone for collaboration and a catalyst for the entrepreneurial activity we aim to attract and support.”
Evan Weiss, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, added: “Johnson & Johnson’s investment in the New Jersey Innovation Hub exemplifies the kind of bold, strategic corporate leadership that fuels our state’s innovation ecosystem and drives lasting impact for New Jersey’s life sciences sector. The NJEDA is proud to have supported HELIX through an Aspire award and a Strategic Innovation Center Investment, and this collaboration among Johnson & Johnson, Portal Innovations, and DEVCO further cements New Brunswick’s position as a premier destination for healthcare innovation — transforming scientific breakthroughs into commercial success and creating high-quality jobs for New Jerseyans.”
Portal Innovations, a leading life sciences venture development engine, is helping design the NJIH to address the growing need for high-quality, affordable lab infrastructure and hands-on support for early-stage companies, according to a news release. Upon opening, Portal Executive Director Sangeetha Ramsagar will manage day-to-day lab and office operations.
“Johnson & Johnson is synonymous with healthcare innovation, and their presence at the New Jersey Innovation Hub sends a powerful signal to founders building in this region,” said John Flavin, founder and CEO of Portal Innovations. “This partnership reinforces our shared belief that world-class infrastructure, community, and corporate partnership are essential to unlocking the full potential of scientific entrepreneurship in New Jersey.”
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