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The basics:

• New Jersey is combining AI and life sciences to transform health care and drug discovery, BioNJ CEO says
• Health systems are using AI tools to improve patient care and reduce administrative burden
• Biopharma firms are deploying AI to speed research and optimize biomanufacturing
• Strategic innovation hubs and investments are fueling the state’s growing AI ecosystem

Across health and life sciences, artificial intelligence is elevating patient care and accelerating drug discovery, driving a powerful wave of innovation. With its deep industry strengths and growing AI ecosystem, New Jersey is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation.

The Garden State is already a nationally recognized powerhouse in the field of biomedical innovation. Its universities, health systems, and biopharmaceutical businesses have long driven medical discovery and development. But recently, New Jersey has also established itself as a leader in artificial intelligence, with independent reports placing the state and the region among the country’s top AI centers.

Transformation is already underway. In New Jersey, hospital teams are using AI to analyze vital signs, lab results and scans — spotting risks and urgent findings faster so clinicians can act quickly. Case in point, Hackensack Meridian Health expanded its AI-powered note summarization tool across 12 specialties – supporting 7,000 clinicians at 18 hospitals and 500 care sites – significantly cutting administrative burden and giving clinicians more time to focus on patient care.

The same data-driven intelligence is reshaping drug discovery, where AI evaluates chemical and biological information to predict compound behavior — highlighting promising candidates and accelerating early-stage research.

With AI accelerating both clinical care and scientific discovery, New Jersey is well positioned to lead for years to come. The state has built a strong foundation for AI-driven progress, creating innovation hubs that unite researchers, health systems and startups to turn cutting edge ideas into real world impact.

This leadership extends beyond discovery into how therapies are developed and manufactured at scale. By applying AI across the biomanufacturing lifecycle – from process development to production – New Jersey can enable faster, more efficient and more resilient manufacturing capabilities. Building on its strong biomanufacturing infrastructure, the Garden State is emerging as a national leader in AI-driven biomanufacturing. Companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson are already using AI to enhance manufacturing and process optimization, while New Jersey-based innovators like Made Scientific and ProBio are advancing data-driven, next-generation biomanufacturing capabilities.

Investing in AI

Building on this momentum, New Jersey is making targeted, forward-looking investments such as the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Hub (NJ AI Hub) and HELIX NJ to strengthen its leadership at the intersection of AI and life sciences. These Strategic Innovation Centers, ranging from accelerators and incubators to research centers and multitenant innovation clusters, have the potential to deliver outsized economic and innovation returns for the state.

This collaborative ecosystem is already delivering results. Microsoft is establishing its new Discovery platform here — one of only two sites worldwide. Building on that momentum, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, CoreWeave and other accredited investors announced a $20 million investment to support startups tied to the NJ AI Hub Strategic Innovation Center, helping them access capital, overcome early challenges and accelerate growth.

However, New Jersey’s progress in AI readiness cannot be taken for granted. Policymakers have laid a strong foundation by establishing coordinated AI leadership, launching responsible-use training, and building shared capacity with universities and industry. These efforts attract high-impact projects, expand shared technology infrastructure and align education with the jobs this work creates.

Yet, these gains remain vulnerable. Across the country, well-intentioned but inconsistent state AI laws are creating uncertainty and slowing innovation. New Jersey’s advantage lies at the intersection of AI momentum and a deep biomedical foundation — and both require careful stewardship. Policy should focus on addressing genuine risks, protecting patients and reflecting real-world use of these tools, promoting safety while sustaining innovation and allowing promising ideas to thrive.

New Jersey has long been where life-changing science becomes reality. Artificial intelligence represents the next chapter in that legacy. By keeping our support practical and focused on real-world outcomes, we can harness today’s technological advances to enable faster diagnoses, stronger clinical research, and more effective therapies — ensuring New Jersey remains a leader in medical innovation for years to come.

Debbie Hart is the president & CEO of BioNJ, the life sciences trade association for New Jersey.