Governor Murphy Kicks Off Strategic Innovation Center Advisory Council’s Inaugural Meeting

The advisory council will advance NJ’s innovation ecosystem and cultivate collaboration amongst the state’s 12 SICs

NEWARK, N.J. (October 8, 2025) – Governor Phil Murphy kicked off the inaugural meeting of the newly-formed Strategic Innovation Center Advisory Council (SIC-AC) today at Prudential Plaza in Newark. The advisory council brings together key stakeholders, academic and corporate leaders, industry champions, subject matter experts, and government officials to further advance New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem through the SIC network established during the Murphy Administration. The SIC initiative is powered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA).

“From technology to life sciences and manufacturing, New Jersey is once again leading the way in innovation. The Strategic Innovation Center Advisory Council will serve as a national model for cultivating a welcoming environment for entrepreneurs and keep the state ahead of the curve as market trends shift,” said Governor Murphy.“By bringing together the public and private sector, this unique collaboration will strengthen our innovation ecosystem, helping bring new technologies to the marketplace and create good-paying jobs for our residents.”

SICs are facilities that support research and development, innovation, and entrepreneurship through mentorship, networking opportunities, hands-on training, business support services, and education opportunities. SICs can be accelerators, incubators, or research centers. There are currently 12 announced SICs across the state.

“Throughout his tenure, Governor Murphy has made major investments to bolster innovation across the state, helping create jobs and strengthen our economy,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Strategic Innovation Centers are supporting the state’s startup community, ensuring that entrepreneurs have access to capital and opportunities for meaningful collaboration with industry stakeholders. Launching the advisory council today confirms the State’s commitment to growing our innovation ecosystem and the expertise and guidance of its members will help enhance our economic competitiveness.”

The SIC-AC aims to make New Jersey a national model of sustainable and equitable economic growth in the innovation sector by creating good-paying jobs, cultivating companies and technologies of the future, and ensuring the state’s long term economic competitiveness. Through dedicated engagement with NJEDA staff, the council seeks to bridge the gap between the private, public, and academic sectors, maximizing the impact of collaborative partnerships within New Jersey’s dynamic innovation ecosystem.

Members of the council will serve as primary advocates for New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem, providing strategic guidance on market trends and ecosystem growth, and assessing programmatic impact. As advocates, members will guide strategic communication efforts, spearhead outreach and engagement with industry, academic, and governmental partners, and will serve as New Jersey innovation economy ambassadors, promoting success stories both from established SICs and NJEDA’s innovation programs.

The advisory council consists of representatives from each announced SIC. Steve Van Kuiken, Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company, will serve as the SIC-AC Chairperson. Additionally, the NJEDA CEO, NJEDA Chief Economic Transformation Officer, and the Secretary of Higher Education, will serve as the council’s Ex-Officio members. Individuals from New Jersey’s innovation sectors will also serve on the SIC-AC.

“I’m extremely impressed with the progress made to date on establishing a robust ecosystem of SICs across the State,” said Van Kuiken, Chair of the SIC-AC. “The SICs will be an engine of economic growth for the State for years to come, and the Advisory Council is well positioned to help them achieve that goal.”

Members of the SIC-AC include:

Strategic Innovation Center Representatives

• Saeed Amidi – Founder & CEO, Plug and Play
• Michael Olmstead – Chief Revenue Officer and Partner, Plug and Play
• Howard Kyle – President, National Aerospace Research & Technology Park
• Paul Hoffman – President & CEO, Liberty Science Center
• Alexis Richter – Executive Director, SciTech Innovation Hub
• Duncan Turner – General Partner; Global Managing Director, SOSV; HAX
• Susan Schofer, PhD – Partner, SOSV; HAX
• Christopher Paladino – President, New Brunswick Development Corp.
• Liat Krawczyk – Founding Executive Director, NJ AI Hub
• Michael Johnson, PhD – President, New Jersey Innovation Institute
• Michael van Ter Sluis – Vice President of Entrepreneurship, New Jersey Innovation Institute
• Thierry E. Klein, PhD – President, Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research
• Chris Jones, PhD – Vice President of Strategic Partnership, Nokia
• Jean-Pierre Issa, MD – President & CEO, Coriell Institute for Medical Research
• Timothy Meyer, PhD – Deputy Director for Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
• Tony Lowman, PhD – Inaugural Chancellor, Rowan University

Independent Members

• Steve Van Kuiken (SIC-AC Chair) – Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company
• Gina Tedesco – Managing Member, Amala Ventures
• Aisha Glover – Vice President, Urban Innovation, Audible
• Marie Pryor, PhD – Leader of Microsoft’s TechSpark Initiative
• Wesley Mathews – President & CEO, Choose New Jersey
• Sean O’Sullivan – Managing General Partner, SOSV
• Corey Sanders – Senior Vice President of Strategy, CoreWeave
• Jeff Cherry – Founder, CEO & Executive Director, Conscious Venture Lab
• Nina Edwards – Vice President of Emerging Technology & Applied Innovation, Prudential Financial
• Anindya Sengupta – Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Prudential
• Victoria Manax, MD – Partner, Eckuity Capital
• Josh Barer – Managing Director, Astr Partners
• John Flavin – Founder & CEO, Portal Innovations
• Nancy Tyrrell – Director of Academic Partnerships on the Growth and Expansion Team, Portal Innovations
• Brian Bridges, PhD – Secretary of High Education, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
• Tim Sullivan – CEO, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Mary Maples – Deputy CEO, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Kathleen Coviello – Chief Economic Transformation Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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