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The $18.5 million Aerospace Innovation Center (AIC) will be built in the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park (NARTP) in Egg Harbor Township, Gov. Phil Murphy announced in a news release on Tuesday, June 11. It will be the state's fifth strategic innovation center and the first dedicated to aerospace.
The AIC will have space for aerospace research, high-speed connectivity with the data systems and laboratories at the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center, and co-working studios.
"The Aerospace Innovation Center will give budding students and entrepreneurs access to state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities to collaborate with experts in the field," Gov. Murphy said in a statement. "This exciting venture solidifies New Jersey as the place to be when it comes to innovation and research."
The center will be the second of seven buildings expected in the aerospace innovation hub. The first building opened in June 2019 and was completely occupied in January 2020.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the Atlantic County Improvement Authority (ACIA) signed an agreement to create a company to develop, construct, and manage the innovation hub. The ACIA will spend $10.5 million on construction and the NJEDA is investing $8 million.
The AIC plans to partner with Stockton University, Rowan University, and the Rutgers University School of Engineering, along with aeronautical institutions such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the National Institute of Aerospace.
"The launch of the Aerospace Innovation Center marks a transformative moment for Atlantic County and the aerospace industry at large," said NARTP chair Mark Loeben. "We are thrilled to see this vision come to life, offering unparalleled opportunities for research, collaboration, and innovation in aerospace technology, while driving economic growth."
Construction on the AIC is expected to finish in October 2025, with the center planned to be fully operational in January 2026.
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