(TRENTON)–The New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology has a new leader and will work to fulfill the Governor’s vision to spur job growth in the life science, nanotechnology, telecommunications and information technology sectors, Governor James E. McGreevey announced today.

The changes are part of the Governor’s plan to make New Jersey the most important place in the nation for scientific research.

“Information and innovation will drive the economy of this new era. New Jersey is already in front; we are already a center of research, and we’re already working to build the industries of tomorrow,” Governor McGreevey said. “Today we have one of the strongest economies in the nation. We’re investing in the research and tech-based fields to ensure that we’ll be even stronger tomorrow.”

“We are establishing an ‘innovation triangle’ – a partnership between the private sector, our research universities, and our State government,” the Governor continued.

The Governor made the following announcements about the Commission on Science and Technology today:

The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2005 budget proposal includes $8 million for the Commission on Science and Technology. The Commission’s new leadership will work with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to attract technology- and research-based businesses into defined Innovation Zones – zones that will turn research at New Jersey’s universities into business growth and job creation. Universities will do the best possible research, and will provide a foundation for growth in the life science and high-tech industries. The partnership will move new technologies more quickly from the lab to the marketplace.

Commerce Secretary Dr. William D. Watley has named a new executive director for the Commission on Science and Technology: Dr. Sherrie Priesche. Dr. Preische holds a doctorate in astrophysical sciences from Princeton University. She has conducted research on fusion energy at Princeton and in France, and worked at the American Physical Society in Washington, D.C. More recently, Dr. Priesche worked with Congressman Rush Holt in several capacities, including serving as his New Jersey District Director and supporting the Congressman’s focus on science and research issues. For more than a year, Dr. Preische has served as a science and technology policy advisor to Governor McGreevey.

“New Jersey has a legacy of innovation and invention,” Dr. Preische said. “Governor McGreevey is providing the tools to keep New Jersey on the cutting edge. I look forward to working with the many talented scientists and entrepreneurs to develop new industry and new jobs for New Jersey.”

Under Dr. Priesche’s leadership, the Commission will help develop the Innovation Zones by creating networks to encourage collaboration between industry and university researchers; working to attract Federal and private investments in research; helping entrepreneurs apply for startup funding; and focusing on areas of strategic importance to New Jersey’s high tech business – including the life sciences, nanotechnology, telecommunications and information technology.

Following the Governor’s vision, the Commission will develop programs in the Innovation Zones to facilitate collaboration between the research universities and local industry; work to increase federal research funding to New Jersey universities; and build collaborative research between New Jersey research universities – including the creation of the New Jersey Stem Cell Institute.

The changes at the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology make up just the latest piece of the Governor’s recent actions to make New Jersey the best place for scientific research.

In January, New Jersey became the second state to legalize stem cell research. In February, the Governor proposed making New Jersey the first to invest State funds to create a stem cell research institution: the New Jersey Stem Cell Institute. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2005 budget proposal includes $6.5 million to begin planning and recruiting top researchers from around the world.

In 2003 the Governor enhanced the Business Employment Incentive Program, or BEIP, after listening to leaders of New Jersey’s tech-based industries. The new BEIP is more accessible to high-tech and biotech businesses. The enhanced BEIP has approved 25 new companies and 3,500 jobs in the six months since Governor McGreevey signed it into law.