Route 1 Research Corridor, The

Mercer Business, Feb 01, 2002 by Lamberg, Erica

A person doesn't have to hold a Ph.D. to see that today's high-tech economy is changing all the rules. That's especially true in economic development.

Fifteen years ago, technology activity was relegated to a few isolated places, such as California's Silicon Valley, eastern Massachusetts and North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.

But now technology and research firms are anywhere and everywhere including the Route 1 Corridor in Mercer County.

Since the early 1990s when several prominent business professionals formed PARRC, the Princeton and Rutgers Research Corridor, it has been the organization's goal to promote Mercer County and the surrounding area as a research and development epicenter.

Richard Woodbridge, a Princeton attorney and former Princeton Borough Mayor who has crusaded for the undertaking since its inception, continues to speak out to spread his message that the State of New Jersey needs to step up and take on an active role. "New Jersey needs to implement a public relations campaign to publicize that the Route 1 Corridor is a premier location in New Jersey to conduct business. It can really be compared to Silicon Valley or the Valley Forges of the country; we are on their par," said Woodbridge.

According to Woodbridge, the Route 1 Corridor, from Lawrence Township to New Brunswick, possesses several key ingredients for its continued success. First, the region has a strong intellectual infrastructure. In addition to universities, community colleges and technology schools, firms want access to other sources of ideas, such as established companies or laboratories. Also, a high-quality physical infrastructure is present with high-speed, broadband Internet access, along with easy airport access and a good highway system. "A technically skilled, workforce is also plentiful," he said. "Our companies demand educated individuals with the skills needed to perform the job, and a demonstrated interest in training for the research and development positions," Woodbridge said.

Capital is also required for the companies to thrive here. "Not only do economic development offices need to come up with the financial aid and tax incentives required but the seed capital is needed to grow entrepreneurial firms from the ground up. Such an environment will in turn help attract other firms," Woodbridge said. "It's not just about the big corporations, the startups are very important as well."

In short, Mercer County needs an environment that encourages "spillovers of knowledge." To compete effectively, high-tech companies need a cross-fertilization of ideas with other companies and universities.

Princeton University benefits by the existence of high-tech companies through collaborative research projects and grant initiatives. "The high -tech firms in our region are a real energetic group of professionals to interact with. They come up with some interesting problems that cause us to come up with ways to respond," said Joe Montemarano, director for Industrial Liaison at Princeton University.

Collaboration often involves faculty and graduate students. Another benefit is exposing students to career options. "There are different career opportunities for our students; some choose a path of academics others choose to work in the private sector. By working side by side with scientists it shows them how their research impacts a project," Montemarano said.

Many of these collaborations are facilitated by POEM, The Center for Photonics and Optoelectronic Materials whose mission is to carry out both fundamental and applied research in the areas of photonics and related technologies, and to educate people within the greater Princeton community on all levels within this discipline. According to the center's website, to carry out this mission POEM inherently strives to bring groups together from both within and outside Princeton University to identify and solve problems, invent and discuss new phenomena, and facilitate technology transfer to appropriate organizations for maximum impact.

Likewise, Rutgers University in New Brunswick benefits from the presence of high-tech firms along the Route 1 Corridor. "It's really a two way street that's a win-win situation for local universities including Rutgers and Princeton. Not only does the Route 1 Corridor promote the educational missions of students, it enables scientists to work on collaborative research projects," said William T. Adams, director of the Office of Corporate Liaison and Technology Transfer with Rutgers University.

Also on the Route 1 Corridor in North Brunswick is The Technology Centre, a 50-acre research park owned and being developed by the NJEDA to foster creation and expansion of high technology businesses in New Jersey. The state-of-the-art research park meets the needs of emerging research and development businesses and industries.

One new entrant is Geneplot, a biotechnology company moving from Evanston, IL to the Technology Centre where it expects to employ more than 150 workers.

To further promote the Route 1 Corridor, Woodbridge said a small non -profit organization is needed to perpetuate its goals. "To hire an experienced executive director and a small staff, the state will need to support a $250,000 budget for an organization which makes sense to be based in Mercer County. This organization would work similar to a chamber of commerce to communicate the assets of the area," he said.