New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy, and a high-level delegation from Choose New Jersey visited the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) headquarters in Kochi. The program included interactions with 12 innovative startups and discussions with CUSAT on research and higher education collaborations.
Focus on the Innovation Economy
Governor Murphy highlighted New Jersey’s strong innovation economy in sectors such as technology, telecom, and digital media. He explained how the state has built 12 strategic innovation centers, aimed at strengthening startup accelerators and emerging tech companies.
Interest in Collaboration with Kerala
The Governor expressed New Jersey’s keen interest in partnering with Kerala’s startups in areas like AI, life sciences, fintech, and digital technologies. He noted that India, particularly Kerala, shares market similarities with New Jersey, making it a natural partner for collaboration.
Potential for Formal Partnerships
Murphy also emphasized the need to explore formal ties between Kerala and New Jersey to unlock greater opportunities. Strengthening these links, he said, could help both regions advance their startup ecosystems and foster long-term cooperation.
Visits to Fab Lab and Maker Village
The delegation also toured the Super Fab Lab and Maker Village, gaining insights into Kerala’s hardware, IoT, and robotics ecosystem. Choose New Jersey CEO Wesley Mathews and New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan spoke at the event, while KSUM’s N.M. Nasif explained the mission’s initiatives.
