BioNJ has long been established as a thought leader and influential advocate for hundreds of life science and pharma companies across the state — helping them work with others around the world.
That distinction took another step forward in the Montreal suburb of Laval on Tuesday, when BioNJ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BIOQuébec, a nonprofit that represents more than 220 companies and organizations in Québec working in the life sciences industry, particularly in the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology fields.
The strategic partnership, signed during the Choose New Jersey-led economic mission in Canada, aims to enhance cooperation and collaboration between the life sciences sectors in Québec and New Jersey.
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The parties said the collaboration will create opportunities for members of both organizations to access new resources, connect with international markets and participate in events designed to drive innovation and growth in the biopharma and biotech industries.
Gov. Phil Murphy was thrilled to make the announcement.
“New Jersey is the home of innovation, with a thriving life sciences sector reaching new heights through collaboration with industry partners abroad,” he said. “The partnership between BIOQuébec and BioNJ is a step forward in delivering crucial results to advance research and development, education and overall growth by fighting for patients’ interests in New Jersey and beyond.”
The MOU provides a framework for cooperation that includes the sharing of best practices, the promotion of bilateral events such as trade missions and participation in joint conferences. This collaboration will enable the life sciences communities in both regions to expand their reach and impact on a global scale.
This partnership marks a significant commitment by both organizations to advance their respective sectors while creating real-world opportunities for their members.
BioNJ CEO Debbie Hart said the agreement is an extension of an already-great relationship.
“Across Québec, the United States and especially here in New Jersey, numerous companies have forged longstanding and well-established strategic partnerships,” she said. “Alliances, like the one between BioNJ and BIOQuébec, serve as catalysts for innovation, sparking new business ventures and fostering cutting-edge research collaborations.
“We are eager to bring our members together in a shared mission to elevate the life sciences sector, with the ultimate aim of accelerating the delivery of transformative medical breakthroughs to patients across the globe.”
BIOQuébec CEO Benoit Larose said partnerships such as this are more critical than ever to the industry.
“In the current global context, where the life sciences industry faces both unprecedented challenges and opportunities, it is crucial for trade associations like ours to nurture strong relationships with international partners,” he said. “Such collaborations not only mitigate the risks associated with volatile supply chains for industry, but also create opportunities to generate value for our members. This partnership will enrich the biotech sectors in both Québec and New Jersey through shared knowledge and initiatives, and it represents a concrete step towards expanding our industries’ influence abroad.”
Choose New Jersey CEO Wes Mathews said creating these partnerships is what his organization is all about.
“As New Jersey’s leading business attraction organization, Choose New Jersey is proud to facilitate this powerful collaboration to bring together New Jersey and Québec’s formidable life sciences sectors to bolster both economies,” he said.
“This agreement creates pathways for New Jersey’s biopharma and biotech companies to scale not only their businesses, but ideas, across the globe.”
