Tech. Centre celebrates 10 years of innovation
Route 1 facility has been key in giving promising business their start
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK — The future is now.

The Technology Centre of New Jersey celebrated its 10-year anniversary at the Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) on Route 1 on Oct. 18.

“This is a great day for us. It is hard to believe 10 years ago we bought this property to develop it into commercial technology. ... Where we are today is because of partnership,” said Caren Franzini, chief executive officer of the N.J. Economic Development Authority (EDA).

The 50-acre Technology Centre site is a joint development project of the EDA and the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust, focused on providing customized, affordable laboratory, production and office space to 20 early-stage technology and life sciences companies based in New Jersey.

“Our discussions with industry leaders back in the early 1990s pointed to a real need for high-quality space to meet the specific requirements of young technology-based companies at affordable prices to keep New Jersey competitive with other states and countries that targets growth companies,” Franzini said.

She recalled the lengthy process it took to acquire the property, having to defend the potential success of the center to prospective banks. She said that although legislation was being passed to increase technology, banks wanted a $900,000 guarantee for the property. The EDA eventually partnered with Johnson & Johnson at the site and were able to build their spec lab space.

“The 10th anniversary of the Technology Centre of New Jersey marks a significant milestone in the state’s economic momentum,” said Richard Kollender, principal of Quaker Bio Ventures, a leading venture capital investor in Mid-Atlantic life science companies. “The Technology Centre has played a crucial role in helping young, promising companies develop into significant economic contributors by providing the necessary elements for growth. ... We applaud this effort and hope there is more to come.”

One such company is Amicus, a biopharmaceutical company that outgrew its North Brunswick roots and relocated to Cranbury. Another company, the Chromocell Corp., started at the center three years ago to work with drug screening and development, and has increased its employees from three people to 20 people.

“My friend told me, ‘Don’t go alone, look for good friends. Sometimes you find them on U.S. Highway Route 1,’ ” Chromocell principal Christian Kopfli said. “We not only had a good time incubating here, they also helped us hatch.”

The CCIT is also home to Advaxis, Ennova MedChem Group, GeneWiz, MaxyBio Corp., Orthocon, ProFACT, Semorex, Sophion Bioscience, Time & Cross and Vincogen Corp.

Tenants of the Technology Centre include Cambrex Corp., The Chubb Institute, Medpointe Pharmaceuticals, Merial Limited, Novo Nordisk and the Rutgers Agriculture Research Project.

Rutgers University has leased 25,000 square feet of space for the Rutgers Technology Center II, which focuses on wireless computer and cell phone networks, energy sources for products ranging from body implants to hybrid cars and drug therapies to relieve chronic diseases.

“The size, scope and high quality of our lab space here are the most obvious benefits, but just as important are the location and our partnership with the state,” said Michael Breton, Rutgers University associate vice president for Research and Sponsored Programs.

Breton said that five years ago his approach to the collaboration between technology transfer and economic development was to be “opportunistic.”

“I never could have imagined this day would come five years later,” he said. “You look for your chances and you take them.”

Rutgers uses the Innovation Zone concept, generated to combine university, industrial and financial sectors to allow universities to take advantage of resources and start up new companies, while encouraging the transfer of discoveries from laboratory to the marketplace.

“We’re close to the university, easily accessible to collaborators from other parts of New Jersey and beyond, and by setting up world class laboratories like the Wireless Information Network Laboratory and the Energy Storage Research Group, alongside other EDA-supported ventures, we help define and strengthen the Innovation Zone concept to boost New Jersey’s technology economy,” Breton said.

“We at Rutgers think cooperation and collaboration are important elements in what the state of growth in New Jersey really needs,” he added.

Another component of the Technology Centre is the EDA’s Techniuum Initiative, which encourages technological expansion in New Jersey by offering a continuum of customized, streamline, long-term support, according to Franzini.

“It brings all of the resources of the agencies [together]: technical assistance ... angel guarantees, venture funds, business incentive programs and equity debt grants,” she said.

In the near future, the Technology Centre is seeking to develop 25 acres on Route 1 north for expanded technology use. As part of the Innovation Zone, Novo Nordisk will open a 30,000-square-foot facility focused on hemostasis therapy.

At least 25 full-time positions are expected by the end of the year, with the goal of 60 positions available over the next few years.

“I thank you all for being here and I thank you for supporting the state of New Jersey,” Franzini said.