Choose New Jersey Business Attraction Mission to Ireland Concludes in Galway

Choose New Jersey delegation participated in roundtable discussion with Galway Chamber of Commerce; Rutgers University signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the National University of Ireland, Galway and the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

GALWAY, IRELAND – Choose New Jersey continued their multi-city business attraction mission in Galway, Ireland today, the last destination of the trip. The delegation participated in a roundtable discussion with the Galway Chamber of Commerce. Later in the day, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway) and the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT).

Galway Chamber of Commerce Technology Roundtable Discussion

In the morning, the Galway Chamber of Commerce and PorterShed, Galway’s highly innovative flagship tech incubator, hosted a roundtable discussion with key industry stakeholders in the community. The New Jersey delegation had the opportunity to promote the Garden State’s innovation economy to the audience, showcasing the state’s bustling tech ecosystem that is attracting Financial Technology (FinTech) entrepreneurs and executives, angel investors and venture capitalists to the state.

“Galway Chamber is delighted to establish links with the enterprise and innovation eco-system of New Jersey,” said Dave Hickey, President, Galway Chamber. “This will provide Irish businesses looking to gain a foothold in the U.S. market with the ability to plug into an established and welcoming business environment. Equally this exchange will allow NJ enterprises to understand how Galway stands apart from other destinations in what it can offer U.S. businesses looking for talent or an entry to the European market.”

National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway) – Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, MOU Event

The New Jersey business delegation traveled to the CÚRAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway) where they announced a formal collaboration between NUI Galway and Rutgers University regarding complementary medical device programs. Both Rutgers and NUI Galway agreed on a path forward to develop multi-disciplinary collaborations involving research on medical device technologies, commercialization of medical technologies, and business incubation and acceleration.

“On behalf of Chancellor Christopher J. Molloy and Provost Prabhas Moghe, we are very excited to launch this alliance with our friends and colleagues in Galway,” said Dr. James Walsh, Rutgers University-New Brunswick’s Senior Director for Innovation. We believe that together, we can build on the strong links between New Jersey and Ireland’s highly innovative indigenous and multinational MedTech companies. Rutgers’ extensive research capabilities, faculty expertise, and business incubation leadership offer the alliance a strong foundation. We look forward to building on this with our colleagues at NUI Galway and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.”

Speaking at the signing, Professor Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director at CÚRAM said “This event is a testimony to CÚRAM’s position as a global leader in the field of medical device research and we welcome the opportunity to share our expertise with our colleagues in New Jersey. We look forward to working with them further as they develop the HUB.”

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) – Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, MOU Event

The day concluded with the New Jersey business delegation visiting GMIT, an award-winning multi-campus higher education institute spread across five locations in Galway and Mayo. Since Choose New Jersey’s February 2019 visit to GMIT, Rutgers University has been in discussions with GMIT about potential collaborations regarding groundbreaking research into stroke and heart disease. Today GMIT and Rutgers University signed an MOU establishing the New Jersey-Ireland Medical Technology Innovation Alliance. The institutions agreed to develop multi-disciplinary collaborations involving: research on medical device technologies, commercialization of medical technologies; and business incubation and acceleration.

“Today’s MOU recognizes the international relevance and exceptional contribution of GMIT’s Medical and Engineering Technologies Research Centre to the MedTech industry,” said Dr. Rick Officer, GMIT’s Vice President for Research and Innovation. “GMIT looks forward to enhancing the international reach and impact of our research capabilities through our new partnership with Rutgers and the New Jersey-Ireland Medical Technology Innovation Alliance.”

“Rutgers is committed to playing an active role in building a stronger innovation ecosystem in New Jersey, and collaborations like these – with some of Ireland’s leading research centers and ambitious MedTech companies – help create the synergy and framework to engage our life sciences and clinical research communities,” said Vincent Smeraglia, Executive Director for Strategic Alliances at Rutgers’ Office of Research and Economic Development. He added, “As site redevelopment plans move forward to create ‘The Hub’ in the heart of New Brunswick as the state’s nexus for research and startup incubation, there is no better time to build alliances that will catalyze innovation and drive our economy forward.”

Today’s visit to Galway marks the final destination of this multi-city business attraction mission. Throughout the trip, the Choose New Jersey delegation, comprised of nearly 20 representatives of New Jersey’s leading businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, showcased the state’s innovation ecosystem and why New Jersey is the best place for the international community to do business. Ireland and New Jersey are closely aligned in their strategy to create an innovation economy, and both economies have thriving FinTech, life sciences, medical device and food industry economies.

About Choose New Jersey

Choose New Jersey, Inc. is a privately funded non-profit economic development organization charged with encouraging and nurturing economic growth throughout New Jersey. The organization offers companies that locate or expand their operations in the State a variety of complimentary services including market intelligence, site visits, State assistance information and connections to a wide range of public and private professional services. For more information, visit www.choosenj.com.