a. “Advanced technology center” means one or more outstanding programs or departments at New Jersey’s public and private institutions of higher education, which are provided substantial and concentrated financial support to promote their development into national-level bases for innovative technology research.

b. “Business incubation facilities” means low-cost, short-term occupancy, rental spaces wherein assistance is granted to a targeted network of new companies employing selected technologies congruent with the strengths of the State‘s public and private institutions of higher education.

c. “Commission” means the Governor’s Commission on Science and Technology as created by Executive Order No. 12 of 1982 or its successor which is established by the Legislature.

d. “Innovation partnership grants” means matching grants to academic researchers performing applied research in emerging technologies at any of the State’s public and private institutions of higher education, which are of strategic importance to the New Jersey economy, under regulations adopted by the commission pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.).

e. “Private institutions of higher education” means independent colleges or universities incorporated and located in New Jersey, which by virtue of law or character or license are nonprofit educational institutions authorized to grant academic degrees and which provide a level of education which is equivalent to the education provided by the State’s public institutions of higher education as attested by the receipt of and continuation of regional accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and which are eligible to receive State aid under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, but does not include any educational institution dedicated primarily to the education or training of ministers, priests, rabbis or other professional persons in the field of religion.

f. “Public institutions of higher education” means Rutgers, The State University, the State colleges, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Montclair State University, Kean University, the county colleges and any other public university or college now or hereafter established or authorized by law.

g. “Technology extension services” means programs that not only accelerate the application and transfer of technological innovations by the State’s public and private institutions of higher education to existing industry, but also adapt these innovations to the requirements of individual business operations.

L.1985, c.105, s.2; amended 2012, c.45, s.82; 2017, c.178, s.46; 2021, c.282, s.46.