Already home to some of the top life sciences companies in the world, Middlesex County, New Jersey offers a uniquely supportive environment for established, emerging, and startup life sciences businesses. Specifically, the County understands talented employees are the backbone of any successful organization. They bring a diverse range of skills, experience, and perspectives that inspires and informs the innovation that drives a company’s success. This is especially true in the life sciences industry, where consistent innovation is crucial. [caption id="attachment_214710" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY[/caption] But identifying and attracting top talent can be a challenge for new and established companies alike. And as the life sciences industry continues its rapid growth, companies that fail to tap into the best talent may find themselves left behind in terms of innovation. For organizations struggling to access top talent, relocating to a talent-rich environment like Middlesex County, NJ is the answer.

The Epicenter of Talent and Innovation

Centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, Middlesex County has been on the cutting edge of scientific discovery and innovation ever since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph and developed a commercially viable incandescent light bulb filament in his Menlo Park laboratory. That tradition of attracting thought leaders and innovators continues to the present day, with Middlesex County recognized as one of the most culturally diverse counties in the state – NJ was ranked as the fourth most diverse state in the nation by personal finance website WalletHub. The county ranks 181% above the national average for jobs in biotechnology, with biotech jobs growing at a faster rate here than the national average. Experienced life sciences professionals are drawn here by both the quality of life – in 2021, NJ was named the #1 best state to live in by WalletHub – and the opportunity to work for some of the world’s foremost life sciences companies that call the county home, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, Genmab, and Novo Nordisk. [caption id="attachment_214713" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY[/caption] Startups and emerging businesses receive additional support from the New Jersey Bioscience Center incubator, a 46,000-square-foot facility that provides the assistance and resources necessary to help turn scientific ideas into breakthrough achievements. Among its many successful graduates are Chromocell and Genewiz, both of which continue to innovate in the county. The county’s academic institutions offer programs specifically tailored to the needs of the life sciences sector and continue to develop new programs that anticipate where it is heading. The Rutgers University Institute for Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowships is the largest program of its kind, training pharmacists for roles in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries through partnerships with Daiichi-Sankyo, BMS, Merck and others. Recognizing the increasing demand for workers who can leverage big data for clinical trials and product development, Middlesex College is launching a data analytics curriculum in 2022, while the NJ Big Data Alliance – founded at Rutgers University – brings together 18 colleges and universities to align big data curriculum and provide specialized technologies to support industry needs. The Middlesex County Office of Career Opportunity  convenes industry thought leaders to address skill gaps. The Office was the first to launch SkillUp, a web-based learning platform for residents, which has now been adopted and rolled out at the state level. The Office of Career Opportunity offers resources not readily accessible elsewhere, including tailored recruitment services, available at no cost to businesses located in the county. [caption id="attachment_214709" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY[/caption] The breadth of available talent has created a unique environment that supports businesses operating in the life sciences sphere. The impact is already evident, as Middlesex County’s abundance of bioscience companies, research labs, and health care institutions continues to bring extraordinary life-improving technology to humanity. This includes the saliva-based COVID-19 test developed by Infinity BiologiX, which was the first of its kind to receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.

Investing in a Sustainable Future

Institutions around the world are recognizing that their role extends beyond their core business function. Corporate responsibility is now essential to business success and is credited with having positive effects on employee recruitment, retention, and productivity. Most of the world’s largest companies have adopted corporate social responsibility goals, which often incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as sustainability. For example, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and Novo Nordisk – companies with a presence in the county – are taking action to reduce emissions in line with climate science as part of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In Middlesex County, these companies find an environment that enables them to achieve success on multiple fronts, from a business and social perspective. [caption id="attachment_214711" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY[/caption] For Middlesex County, sustainability is more than a catch phrase. Middlesex is the number one county in the state for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and has the highest percentage of non-residential solar. This is especially impressive considering New Jersey ranks first in the nation on a total installed solar PV capacity per square-mile basis. And the state ranks fifth based upon the ease with which corporations can procure renewable energy. The county is also investing in infrastructure supporting the expanded development and use of electric, connected, and autonomous vehicle technology. This includes DataCity, Middlesex County’s Autonomous and Smart Mobility Initiative, a stretch of New Brunswick roadway that will be fully equipped with self-driving-grade roadside sensors and computing devices to continuously collect vehicle, pedestrian, and infrastructure data from this urban corridor. Once completed, it will be the first smart mobility testing corridor with complete end-to-end high-resolution sensor and cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) coverage in a heavily congested urban environment in the country. The future for the life sciences industry is strong in Middlesex County. With access to diverse talent, strong infrastructure – including sustainable energy, and the unwavering support of forward-thinking leadership, life sciences companies in Middlesex County have everything they need to focus on the business of innovation and discovery. For more information visit www.discovermiddlesex.com/biz.