The expansion of remote work has opened companies’ minds to new possibilities of business location far beyond Silicon Valley. For the best new place to grow a young business, startups need to look no further than New Jersey. Primely located near both New York City and Philadelphia, Middlesex County, New Jersey has all of the ingredients needed to be the next major hub for Research and Development (R&D).
TechUnited:NJ CEO Aaron Price sat down with Sandy Castor, Director of the Office of Business Engagement in Middlesex County NJ, to discuss why Middlesex County is the perfect place to grow a business in 2022.
The tech and science talent pool is massive
Large and growing tech and life science businesses flock to Middlesex County for its massive talent pool. New Jersey ranks second for life sciences Research and development, and Middlesex County ranks fourth for new biomedical science talent. For its size, Middlesex Country ranks high for its volume of biomedical experts, physicists, and chemists.
The RWJBarnabas Health Center and Rutgers University are both located in Middlesex County, attracting and nurturing the best minds in life sciences research and development.
Innovative infrastructure is growing
Middlesex County is actively investing in innovative architecture and programs that will support major business growth. The $7.5 million broadband expansion initiative aims to bring high-grade, accessible internet connectivity in the county, and investment in Data City (to be located in Piscataway, NJ using data collected in New Brunswick) will be equipped with new self-driving car lanes that support the safety measures of the Vision Zero initiative.
The New Jersey Bioscience Center and Princeton Innovation Center BioLab located in Middlesex County proves that Middlesex is both a supportive and ideal environment for growing businessses. The momentum for structures supporting science research and development is continuing with the development of The Hub, a 550,000 square-foot building aimed to house the best and brightest in medical research and innovation.
There is congressional support for businesses, both big and small
Middlesex County provides leadership and resources to community businesses. Business retention and expansion are key factors, and this ethos is applicable to all businesses from small businesses to major corporations, once of which is Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick.
The Middlesex County Office of Business Engagement helps in the company site selection for businesses of all sizes. Most recently, the office connected Biocentriq with their current expanded office. “Business moves at the speed of relationships,” says Castor. The relationships with building owners, venture capitalists, and tax experts are the perfect resources to have along the way.
The location is prime, both for business growth and work/life balance
Middlesex County is right in the middle of everything, in every sense of the phrase. Aside from being centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, it is also a center for innovative living structures and quality of life.
“Not only from our talent pool, our infrastructure, the education system, the green space, the open space…it’s not only about working here, we want you to live here,” says Castor.
You’re in good company: three startups that are already growing and thriving in Middlesex
- The R&D department for Argo AI is located in Cranbury, NJ. Argo AI works with major vehicle manufacturers like Ford and Volkswagen to create safe automated self-driving technology.
- Biocentriq is a cell and gene therapy solutions center in South Brunswick. They currently offer full service contracts for the development, organization, and production of cell and gene therapies, and have expanded to 9,000 square foot manufacturing facility.
- MTF Biologics in Edison, New Jersey is an innovative health research center that creates tissue grafts for patients locally and globally.
Thanks again to the Middlesex County Office of Business Engagement for powering this post! To connect with more startups in New Jersey, follow TechUnited:NJ on all platforms: