Mercer Times

Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, along with the New Jersey-India Commission and a delegation from New Jersey, commenced an economic mission in India. The nine-day visit aims to bolster economic relations with India by establishing new partnerships to foster growth in life sciences and technology sectors. The delegation's itinerary included a two-day stay in Bengaluru, Karnataka's capital, known for its technological advancements.

During their time in Bengaluru, Lieutenant Governor Way and the commission participated in the TiE Global Summit at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. Here, Lieutenant Governor Way emphasized the shared goal of nurturing a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem between New Jersey and India. "This partnership reflects and builds upon the longstanding economic and cultural relationship between New Jersey and India," she stated. A Letter of Intent was signed with Karnataka's Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, and Science and Technology to promote innovation within New Jersey’s technology sector.

The delegation also visited Infosys’ campus where they met with Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of Infosys Technologies. Discussions centered on India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Infosys' significant role in digital transformation. This interaction aimed to draw insights from India's digital framework for potential implementation strategies.

In addition to these engagements, Lieutenant Governor Way met with representatives from the Bangalore Bio-Innovation Centre at Bangalore Helix Biotech Park to explore joint research opportunities. The meeting included discussions on investment prospects for startups looking to expand into the U.S., alongside leaders from various technology organizations.

Further strengthening ties in biotechnology, a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Choose New Jersey, ABLE (Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises), and ILSE (Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship). "We are eager to bolster opportunities in the biotechnology sector for both regions," said Lieutenant Governor Way regarding this agreement aimed at supporting Indian biotech firms expanding into the U.S.

Lieutenant Governor Way also held talks with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon Ltd., focusing on collaborations in research development, talent exchange, and future expansion projects within biotechnology.