Late last week, a New Jersey delegation – funded and coordinated by Choose New Jersey and led by Gov. Phil Murphy – headed to East Asia for an economic mission that includes visits to Japan and South Korea.

In addition to the governor and his wife, First Lady Tammy Murphy, the delegation includes other elected officials, industry and academic leaders, representatives from Choose New Jersey and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), relevant stakeholders, and others.

As NJBIZ reported in July when the trip was first announced, the mission runs from Oct. 14-22.

“Japan and South Korea have long been some of New Jersey’s most vital economic, academic, and cultural partners,” said Murphy in July. “I look forward to leading a large New Jersey delegation to these vital trading partners this fall to reaffirm our longstanding ties and make the case for New Jersey as the best place to expand and grow a business.”

The first leg of the trip kicked off in Japan, with some notable developments already taking place.

A historic Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed Oct. 15 between Rutgers University, RWJBarnabas Health and Hiroshima University to advance cancer research and education between New Jersey and Japan.

The LOI allows for future collaboration on digestive tract cancer clinical trials as well as creates an exchange between top researchers and students – allowing them to study, conduct and present research across the respective institutions, creating new academic, business and research and development opportunities in Japan and the Garden State.

“With today’s ceremony, we will establish a new, cross-continental partnership – one that will enable our top minds in New Jersey to engage and exchange ideas with researchers here in Hiroshima,” said Murphy in a press release. “In the years to come, I am confident that this partnership will lead to important breakthroughs, especially when it comes to caring for cancer patients in New Jersey, Japan, and around the world.”

Proud to announce a Memorandum of Understanding between three incredible institutions – @HiroshimaUnivEn, @RutgersU,& @RWJBarnabas – establishing a new, cross-continental partnership on life sciences, especially cancer research, between NJ and Hiroshima. #NJEastAsiaMission pic.twitter.com/DnwaUfqhOg

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) October 15, 2023

“This historic collaboration between Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health with the Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences of Hiroshima University, a leading institute in cancer research, among other areas, is part of a broader initiative to expand Rutgers Health’s research and clinical strengths globally,” said Brian Strom, chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.

“RWJBarnabas Health is exceptionally proud to be a part of this incredible global academic collaboration,” said Mark Manigan, president and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health. “By signing this Letter of Intent, we are transcending traditional academic boundaries to foster and advance clinical research and education with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes internationally.”

“Following today’s agreements, I envision Hiroshima University actively participating in academic and researcher exchanges in the field of health care with Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health, making noteworthy contributions to health care both locally and beyond,” said Mitsuo Ochi, president of Hiroshima University.

Wesley Mathews, president and CEO of Choose New Jersey, the state’s leading nonprofit economic development organization and economic mission organizer, noted that research is at the heart of New Jersey’s standing as a leading global innovation hub.

“Today, we take another step in strengthening our state’s innovation ecosystem with a leading Japanese research university,” said Mathews.

An Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities was also signed.

Other notable happenings so far have included the governor and first lady leading the delegation in the laying of a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park; meeting with Japanese leaders and businesses, such as Furukawa Electric and Sony; and reaffirming a sister-state partnership between the Garden State and Fukui Prefecture that has existed for more than three decades.

“Wheels down in Japan,” Murphy posted on social media Oct. 14. “New Jersey are both moving full speed ahead in leading the industries of tomorrow, and there is no better time than now to strengthen our economic bond.”

NJBIZ will continue to update as notable developments from the trip are announced.