Johnson & Johnson To Establish Innovation Centers

September 19th, 2012 by Chris Sturm

Rendering of the Innovation District along the South Boston waterfront. Source: Seaport District

Johnson and Johnson is using a new approach to accelerate partnering and investment in thriving science and technology communities, by establishing innovation centers in four world markets. But none of the four announced centers is in New Jersey.

What are innovation centers? How can New Jersey bring together its educated workforce, institutions of higher learning, extensive transit system and compact walkable communities in ways that foster innovation centers and expand our job base? New Jersey Future’s new report (pdf) looks at four innovation districts to try to identify some key elements of their success, and then examines whether these districts could serve as models for establishing innovation centers in New Jersey. Its key finding: New Jersey does have many of the key assets that have made other innovation districts successful.

The draft State Strategic Plan has a focus on key industry clusters as a potential driver of economic growth. Next step: ways to implement this strategy in the Garden State.