NJ EDA
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) grows the state’s economy and increases opportunities by supporting high-quality job creation, catalyzing investment, and fostering community development.
NJEDA works in partnership with a diverse range of stakeholders to implement programs and initiatives that improve quality of life, stimulate investments in NJ companies, enhance economic vitality, and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Venture Programs & Funds
NJ Innovation Evergreen Fund (NJIEF)
Raises $300M via corporate tax credit auctions.
Co-invests $10M or up to $12.5M with bonuses per qualified NJ company.
Founders & Funders
Semi-annual speed-dating style investor meetings.
250+ investors, 400+ startups, 3,000+ meetings since 2014.
Innovation Fellows Program
Up to $400K non-dilutive grants for first-time entrepreneurs.
Focus: advanced manufacturing, clean energy, tech.
Life Sciences & Healthcare Fund
Matches public-private capital 1:1 for qualified companies raising seed to Series B sectors that include: medical devices, regenerative medicine, tech platforms, digital health or diagnostics, biomedical technologies, and other industries that dedicate their efforts to creating products to improve human or animal lives.
Target: no round larger than $20M, $7.5M 1:1 matching, <750 employees.
Golden Seeds (NJ Chapter)
National angel network backing women entrepreneurs in life sciences/healthcare, technology industries as well as consumer companies that have over $1M annual revenue run rate.
NJ chapter invested $10M+ since 2020.
Economic Transformation Programs
Angel Investor Tax Credit
20–25% refundable tax credit for qualified NJ companies with an approved increase to 35–40% in refundable tax credit effective in 2026.
Net Operating Loss (NOL) Program
Sell tax losses/R&D credits for cash.
Up to $20M lifetime benefit per business.
Angel Match
Investment is convertible notes with warrants.
Matches outside angel investment (from $100K up to $1M) for qualified early-stage companies.
NJ Accelerate
Provides matching funds for graduating qualified entrepreneurs from partner accelerators.
Matches funding from partner accelerators up to $250K convertible note + rent support up to $25K.
Other Programs
NJ ZIP – up to $175K for up to class 8 electric vehicle voucher program.
NJ C-PACE – Provides qualifying commercial property owners access financing to undertake qualifying energy efficiency projects.
Film & Digital Media Tax Credit – tax credit incentives through July 1, 2039.
Strategic Innovation Centers
HAX Newark
The world’s leading hard-tech accelerator, HAX provides pre-seed startups with a six-month residency, $250K investment, and hands-on engineering. Focused on industrial, health, and climate solutions, it anchors Newark’s innovation economy with NJIT, Rutgers, and Princeton as partners.
NJ FAST Hoboken
New Jersey’s first FinTech/InsurTech accelerator, operated with Plug & Play, Stevens Institute, and Prudential. Offers two cohorts annually with 10+ companies each. Provides investor access, customer introductions, and mentor networks, creating the East Coast’s premier fintech hub.
HELIX - New Brunswick
A transformative 12-story life sciences tower housing Rutgers Medical School, translational research space, and corporate labs. Designed to catalyze New Jersey’s biotech ecosystem, it is expected to generate thousands of jobs while fostering collaboration among universities, hospitals, and industry.
EdgeWorks - Jersey City
An eight-story digital health hub at SciTech Scity, EdgeWorks includes labs, coworking, R&D suites, and a conference center. Anchored by Israel’s Sheba Medical, it advances healthcare innovation while strengthening global collaboration in Jersey City.
NJ AI Hub - Princeton
A statewide artificial intelligence ecosystem founded with Princeton University, Microsoft, and CoreWeave. It combines research, startup acceleration, and workforce training, applying AI to life sciences, clean energy, cybersecurity, and logistics, and supporting commercialization through a dedicated AI venture fund.
Nokia Innovation Center - New Brunswick
Located at Nokia’s new HQ, this venture studio and lab space fosters deep tech innovation in AI, microelectronics, advanced manufacturing, and communications. The center will support academic and corporate partnerships, commercializing cutting-edge ideas into market-ready businesses.
Atlantic County Aerospace - Egg Harbor Township
Based at the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park, this hub focuses on aviation and aerospace R&D. It offers coworking and prototyping facilities, with university partners like Rowan, Rutgers, and Embry-Riddle, strengthening South Jersey’s aerospace industry.
NJ Coriell BioMedical Center - Camden
A world-class biomedical hub with 45,000 sq. ft. of incubator labs, vivarium, and convening space. It focuses on cancer research, stem cells, epigenetics, and personalized medicine, serving as a catalyst for Camden’s growing biotech cluster.
MedTech Strategic Innovation Center - Camden/Mullica Hill
A multi-site accelerator operated by Plug and Play, this SIC supports early-stage medical technology and device startups in South Jersey. With specialized lab and diagnostic space across Rowan University’s West Campus and Camden facilities, it fosters collaboration among academic, clinical, and venture partners.
Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA) - Trenton
NJ’s first state authority dedicated to improving maternal and infant health, MIHIA coordinates policymaking, research, education, innovation, and perinatal workforce development. It leverages community advisory input to reduce mortality and disparities and anchor the Nurture NJ strategic plan.
CSIT
New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation & Technology
Catalyst Research & Development (R&D) Voucher Program
A pilot initiative offering early‑stage New Jersey companies up to $40,000 (over 12 months) in vouchers to subsidize access to state university, federal, or nonprofit R&D facilities. It aims to connect startups with equipment, training, and makerspaces to accelerate commercial development across diverse tech sectors.
Clean Tech R&D Voucher Program
Supports early‑stage NJ clean technology companies by offering up to $40,000 per year in vouchers to access university or government labs and makerspaces. It spans TRL 1 to 7 and promotes clean‑tech R&D in areas like energy, waste, water, and green buildings.
Clean Tech Seed Grant Program (Round 4)
Provides grants up to $75,000 to early‑stage NJ clean‑tech and clean‑energy companies (TRL 2–7) to advance innovations toward commercialization. Aims to accelerate impact and investor interest across sectors like energy, water, agriculture, materials, and more.
SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program (Round 5)
Offers two grant components: $25,000 for Phase I or Fast‑Track federal SBIR/STTR winners, or $50,000 bridge funding for Phase II applicants. This program aims to increase success and reduce funding gaps for New Jersey small businesses in federal innovation programs.
Choose New Jersey
Choose New Jersey is the state’s premier nonprofit economic development organization, offering no-cost, customized concierge services to tech companies—from ambitious startups to global enterprises—helping them establish or expand in New Jersey.
With a legacy of innovation dating back to Bell Labs and Edison, the state now boasts one of the nation’s top tech workforces, world-class digital infrastructure, robust higher education partnerships, and unparalleled access to venture capital and global markets.
Choose New Jersey amplifies this ecosystem by securing wins like attracting WebMD to Newark, enabling the HAX U.S. HQ in Newark, and launching priority AI compute access for early-stage firms through a strategic partnership with Foundry—making it a powerful catalyst for technological growth..
