New Jersey Economic Mission Trip to Canada Daily Recap – September 9

Toronto, Canada—Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation continued the Choose New Jersey Governor-led economic mission in Toronto today. Meetings and events focused on developing economic relations and creating partnerships between New Jersey and Canada, particularly in key industries such as life sciences, fintech, healthcare, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Below are photos and additional details from the day’s events in Toronto:

Governor Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy Discuss Financial Industry Partnerships with Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets

Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and members of the New Jersey delegation met with leaders of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Capital Markets, a global investment bank, to discuss strategic partnerships between RBC and New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) Strategic Innovation Centers, the New Jersey Fintech Accelerator at Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ FAST), and the Princeton AI Hub. The Governor and First Lady met with RBC Capital Markets CEO and Group Head Derek Nelder to find paths for collaboration in fintech, AI, and renewable energy.

Governor Murphy Creates Pathways for Collaboration with Canadian Startups at JLABS @ Toronto at MaRS Discovery District

Governor Murphy and the New Jersey delegation visited the MaRS Discovery District,  one of the largest urban innovation hubs in the world, where they participated in a startup-focused event with JLABS, a prominent life sciences incubator established by Johnson & Johnson Innovation. Governor Murphy discussed New Jersey and Canada’s thriving innovation ecosystems and highlighted the critical role of startups in driving economic growth. He also underscored New Jersey’s commitment to creating a supportive environment for startups, making it an ideal partner for Canadian innovators looking to scale globally. Over 20 startups represented key industries including life sciences, fintech, cleantech and clean energy, and AI in healthcare.

First Lady Tammy Murphy Leads Engaging Roundtable on Challenges and Successes of Women in Tech, Hosted by the U.S. Consulate Toronto

First Lady Tammy Murphy chaired a roundtable discussion hosted by the U.S. Consulate General Toronto on navigating the challenges women often face when building and growing in business, particularly women in tech. The event featured important discussions with successful women in the industry, and focused on mentorship, fostering diversity, encouraging young women to pursue careers in tech, and overcoming obstacles. The discussion also touched on the need to create a supportive ecosystem for women in tech through policy, education, and community initiatives.

Governor Murphy, RxSource Announce New Jersey Expansion, Bringing New Jobs to West Deptford Facility

Governor Murphy announced that RxSource, a global leader in clinical trial services, is creating dozens of new jobs at the company’s new facility in West Deptford as it continues its major U.S. expansion in New Jersey. Governor Murphy was joined by RxSource CFO Aziz Hirji, who spoke of the advantages of doing business in New Jersey, particularly for companies in the life sciences and biotech sectors, emphasizing the state’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and highly skilled talent pool. This expansion is a testament to New Jersey’s attractiveness as a destination for business growth and innovation.

Read the Press Release.

Governor Murphy Facilitates MOU Signing Between New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the Ontario Centre for Innovation (OCI)  to Support Startups, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

Governor Murphy shared remarks before facilitating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NJIT and the Ontario Centre for Innovation, an Ontario not-for-profit corporation that brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative R&D, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians. The agreement establishes a partnership to support the growth of startups and subject matter experts (SMEs) in the life sciences, digital health solutions, AI, and advanced manufacturing industries. “New Jersey is an innovation hub, home to the world’s most talented thinkers educated at our internationally recognized research universities, medical schools, and institutional partners,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The collaboration between NJIT and the Ontario Centre of Innovation brings together two innovation incubators that will pioneer the future of science and technology while creating new job opportunities for New Jersey workers and families.”

Read the Press Release.

First Lady Tammy Murphy Shares Strides in New Jersey Maternal Health Outcomes, Discusses Rutgers University-led Collaborative Research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto

First Lady Tammy Murphy visited The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (SickKids), one of the largest and most comprehensive pediatric hospitals in Toronto. She was joined by Tony Calcado, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Rutgers University, and Cindy Jebb, President of Ramapo College, who met with Dr. Ronald Cohn, President & CEO of SickKids, and Jeff Mainland, Executive Vice-President of SickKids. The group discussed efforts to improve maternal health outcomes in both New Jersey and Canada, including the First Lady’s Nurture NJ Strategic Plan and the NJEDA’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center (MIHIC) in Trenton. The First Lady praised the transformative work being done by the organization to improve the lives of so many children, adding, “Canada and New Jersey are home to some of the most highly educated and talented medical workers on the planet, and we are proud to support and expand initiatives that lead to a healthier future for children.”

Read the Press Release.

New Jersey Delegation Paves Way for Artificial Intelligence Collaboration at Vector Institute for AI

The New Jersey delegation visited the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, a private non-profit artificial intelligence research institute in Toronto focused on machine learning and deep learning research, to discuss New Jersey’s increased investment in AI. The delegation discussed cutting-edge-research and opportunities for partnerships to drive economic growth in New Jersey and Canada. The Vector Institute offers a variety of programs, courses, and projects designed to help students and professionals engage with AI technologies, including research contributions, collaborative programs, internships, and education programs.

Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and New Jersey Delegation Attend American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Toronto Roundtable

Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation addressed the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Toronto, meeting with companies interested in expanding their businesses to New Jersey. New Jersey’s assets, as the best place to do business for companies seeking growth, connectivity, access to consumers and global markets, a highly educated workforce, and more, were discussed at the roundtable.

Please visit choosenj.com/CanadaMission to learn more, and follow coverage of the Choose New Jersey Governor-led mission to Canada.