the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Alliance sent a letter to Governor Murphy and state lawmakers, urging them to support AI startups and avoid regulatory proposals that could undermine innovation and push growth elsewhere.
The letter highlights New Jersey’s long-standing role as a leader in innovation and praises recent public investments in the state’s technology ecosystem. It points to $15 million in funding to establish the NJ AI Hub in Princeton and $5.8 million to launch a Strategic Innovation Center at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark as examples of how the state is helping early-stage companies succeed.
“These investments send a clear signal that New Jersey is serious about supporting AI innovation and the growth of early-stage companies. We should continue to build on this commitment with a policy environment that supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” the group writes.
NJITA warns that adding new layers of complex regulations would increase costs, create legal uncertainty, and make it more difficult for smaller companies to compete with larger, well-funded firms. The letter encourages lawmakers to continue supporting a regulatory environment that fosters innovation rather than stifling it.
“Where new legislation is appropriate, it should be narrowly tailored and designed to address specific problems. Rules that are overly broad or difficult to interpret raise the cost of compliance. That makes it harder for smaller startups to participate and easier for larger incumbents to consolidate their position. Our local innovators should be focused on their game-changing inventions, not hiring lawyers,” the letter says.
The letter was signed by the board members of the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Alliance:
Carlos Iván Merino – Executive Director and Founder; government affairs professional and former chair of a state blockchain task force
Denise Fernandes – President of Women Economic Forum NJ and Portugal; former Latino outreach lead under the Obama and Biden administrations
Thomas Goslee – ICT Compliance Officer at AOZ in Zurich; specialist in EU-compliant digital identity and blockchain infrastructure
Jermaine James – Co-owner of Superior Kings Insurance; longtime public affairs strategist and founder of MCJ Consultant Group
Press Iyamu – IT analyst at Exelon and member of the Hackensack Zoning Board
Angela Marrugo Moreno – Labor law attorney and HR specialist with credentials from Universidad Externado of Colombia
Carlos Peralta – Financial professional; founder of Tu Apoyo Latino and Latino Co-Chair at NJPAC
Maria Prato – Air Force veteran and public sector communications lead for NJMVC and Homeland Security
John Roman – Crisis communications consultant and former Linden City Council member
Sagar Shah – Director of Technology, NJITA
The full letter can be found below.
Dear Governor Murphy and Members of the New Jersey Legislature:
New Jersey has long been the cradle of innovation, where the inventions that revolutionized modern life first came to light. Edison’s work in applied electricity helped build the foundation for the second industrial revolution. Researchers at Bell Labs developed the transistor and advanced the technologies that now power global communication. These moments were possible because the state made room for people to build. That freedom to create remains paramount as startup founders pioneer the next generation of digital technologies.
Artificial intelligence is already changing how services are delivered, how businesses operate, and how governments solve problems. As this technology becomes more embedded in daily life, the decisions made by lawmakers will shape whether innovation stays in New Jersey or moves elsewhere.
The New Jersey Innovation & Technology Alliance is focused on collaboration between business leaders, researchers, and public officials to support technological advancements for the betterment of society. We believe New Jersey can lead not by overhauling how innovation is governed, but by focusing on what works. That includes clear expectations, a stable regulatory path, and a commitment to removing barriers for smaller firms and emerging developers.
As legislators consider how artificial intelligence is applied across sectors, it’s important to understand how the technology has already revolutionized everything from healthcare to education to energy to small business operations. Businesses are already required to develop this technology in compliance with existing law. Where new legislation is appropriate, it should be narrowly tailored and designed to address specific problems. Rules that are overly broad or difficult to interpret raise the cost of compliance. That makes it harder for smaller startups to participate and easier for larger incumbents to consolidate their position. Our local innovators should be focused on their game-changing inventions, not hiring lawyers.
State investments should also reflect the realities of how innovation happens. Open research infrastructure, access to technical expertise, and procurement strategies that are inclusive of smaller participants can all help keep more of this work rooted in New Jersey. These decisions affect where companies grow, where talent stays, and who gets to participate in the future economy.
New Jersey is already backing that approach with NJEDA’s approval of the initial $15 million to establish the NJ AI Hub in Princeton, along with $5.8 million to launch a healthcare-focused Strategic Innovation Center at NJIT. These investments send a clear signal that New Jersey is serious about supporting AI innovation and the growth of early-stage companies. We should continue to build on this commitment with a policy environment that supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
We value the opportunity to continue working with lawmakers and agencies across the state. The groundwork for responsible innovation is already in place. Now is the time to focus on execution, clarity, and access. That is how we make sure New Jersey’s innovation economy remains open to local builders, small firms, and the Garden State residents harnessing emerging technologies to solve some of society’s most pressing issues.
Sincerely,
Board Members, New Jersey Innovation & Technology AllianceCarlos Iván Merino
Denise Fernandes
Thomas Goslee
Jermaine James
Press Iyamu
Angela Marrugo Moreno
Carlos Peralta
Maria Prato
John Roman
Sagar Shah
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