Page 26 - midJersey Business - January 2015

The hybrid lab
at St. Francis
Medical Center

F

OR MORE THAN TWO DE-
What is different about this latest report?
CADES, DEBBIE HART HAS ● We wanted to tell the whole story. In the past, we
focused on the number of biotechnology companies in
WITNESSED THE UPS AND
New Jersey and their impact. For the irst time ever, we
DOWNS OF THE BIOTECH- included the broad life sciences spectrum—the medical

NOLOGY INDUSTRY IN THE device companies, Big Pharma, and the biotech industry.

STATE. AND RIGHT NOW, At the end of day, all parts of the ecosystem are working
THINGS POINT SOLIDLY IN A together to ensure therapies and cures get to patients.

POSITIVE DIRECTION, SAYS
Your paper mentions that reports analyzing the life
HART, PRESIDENT AND CEO
sciences industry usually divide New Jersey along the
OF TRENTON-BASED BIONJ.
metropolitan statistical area boundaries of New York/

FOCUSED ON THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY Northern New Jersey and the Delaware Valley, which
incorporates Southern New Jersey. Why was it important
OF NEW JERSEY’S LIFE SCIENCES CLUSTER, BIONJ
CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE STATE OF for this new report to look at the state as a whole?
We are about New Jersey and what’s good for it. We felt
THE INDUSTRY. THE MOST RECENT REPORT, DONE ●
it was our job to put the parameters and metrics around
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EY, THE EDWARD J. BLOUS- the New Jersey story. It’s important to do that to raise our

TEIN SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND PUBLIC POLICY, proile. We want people to understand exactly what are
New Jersey’s strengths and how large they are. When you
AND THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT’S OFFICE OF look at the state as a whole rather than broken into two
separate halves, it’s a compelling economic story.
RESEARCH AND INFORMATION, PROVIDED A FEW

NEW WRINKLES OVER PREVIOUS ONES.
What are some of the biggest takeaways from this report?
HART DESCRIBES SOME OF THE FINDINGS AND ● There are a few things. The life sciences industry in

GIVES A SNAPSHOT OF THE THRIVING INDUSTRY.
New Jersey spends approximately $30.1 billion annu-

24 business
midJersey