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The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced Tuesday the launch of a Strategic Innovation Center (SIC) in partnership with Nokia Bell Labs. The forthcoming HELIX 2 building in New Brunswick will house the latest SIC.

NJBIZ has reported extensively on the state’s Strategic Innovation Centers – facilities that support research and development, innovation, entrepreneurship and more.

This latest SIC will include the NJ Nokia Bell Labs Innovation Center and Bell Labs Venture Studio. Officials say the effort will focus on enabling startups to accelerate and commercialize intellectual property from Nokia Bell Labs and local universities. The SIC will emphasize areas such as communication, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and optical and wireless networks.

In 2023, Nokia announced plans to relocate its Bell Labs campus from Murray Hill to a new, state-of-the-art research and development facility at the developing Health and Life Science Exchange (HELIX) innovation district under construction in downtown New Brunswick.

With HELIX 2 slated to open by 2028, Nokia’s Murray Hill Campus will initially house the Bell Labs Venture Studio, starting by around the middle of this year, until the move to New Brunswick at the NJ Nokia Bell Labs Innovation Center.

‘The place to be’

“For a century, Nokia Bell Labs has been a world-class leader in research and development and our partnership with them sends a clear message that when it comes to technology and innovation, the Garden State is the place to be,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a press release.

“Bell Labs has long been at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation and this partnership will help bring new technologies to the marketplace and bolster New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan.

“Bell Labs has proudly called New Jersey home for most of our 100-year history, and we are thrilled to launch the Bell Labs Venture Studio in partnership with NJEDA in 2025 – as we celebrate our centennial anniversary,” said Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research President Thierry Klein.

Key features of the partnership include:

• NJEDA will invest $25 million to support the overall effort
• The 13,5000-square-foot NJ Nokia Bell Labs Innovation Center will offer coworking and lab space with specialized equipment to support the companies’ ongoing research
  • • Will provide emerging companies with necessary business training, operating services, physical space and management guidance
    • Pending board approval, NJEDA plans to invest $10 million into the Innovation Center on a 1:1 basis with Nokia
    • Nokia plans to partner with at least one of the state’s engineering schools
• The Nokia Ventures Team will operate Bell Labs Venture Studio as well as and provide entrepreneurs and researchers with necessary business training, operating services and management guidance. The team will also facilitate company creations to generate high-skilled jobs in the state
  • • The venture studio will assist with access to a network of academic, corporate and venture partners to accelerate venture growth
    • Pending board approval, the NJEDA intends to invest $15 million into the Venture Studio on a 1:1 basis with Nokia

Nokia Chief Strategy and Technology Officer Nishant Batra said Bell Labs has a long-standing commitment to innovation and excellence in the Garden State.

“Our partnership with NJEDA to launch the Bell Labs Venture Studio and the NJ Nokia Bell Labs Innovation Center is a testament to our dedication to fostering cutting-edge research and supporting the growth of startups in the state,” said Batra. “By collaborating with academic institutions and leveraging our intellectual property and state-of-the-art facilities, we aim to drive technological advancements and bolster New Jersey’s innovation economy.”

Creating opportunity

“The Bell Labs mission has always been to create ground-breaking technologies that have a demonstrable impact on society and industry,” said Klein. “This initiative will not only create new opportunities for emerging startups in New Jersey but also unlock the potential of groundbreaking innovations, and reinforce our legacy of pioneering breakthroughs in communication, AI, and other transformative technologies.”

Sullivan noted the governor’s commitment to reestablishing New Jersey as a leader in innovation. He also highlighted investments in resources to support entrepreneurs.

“Powered by the NJEDA’s Strategic Innovation Center initiative, the NJ Nokia Bell Labs Innovation Center and New Jersey Bell Labs Venture Studio will foster the development of state-of-the-art technology, create new jobs, and drive long-term economic growth,” said Sullivan.

“By providing office and lab space and networking and collaboration opportunities, the NJEDA’s Strategic Innovation Center initiative is helping entrepreneurs grow their business and develop the next generation of life changing technologies,” said Murphy.