By Chrissy Buteas, President and CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey
TLDR:
1. New Jersey’s life sciences industry and skilled trades workforce offer a foundation for expanding domestic pharmaceutical research and manufacturing.
2. The op-ed cites more than $4 billion in New Jersey pharma and biotech construction investment from 2019 to 2024, spanning more than 70 major projects and 5.7 million labor hours.
3. Chrissy Buteas calls for investment in the facilities and workforce needed to maintain American biotech leadership and strengthen medicine supply chains.
New Jersey has long earned its reputation as the “Medicine Chest of the World.” Our state is home to a high concentration of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, researchers, and scientists dedicated to developing and producing medicines that save and improve lives. Additionally, the state benefits from a skilled workforce that builds the facilities needed for these advancements.
Today, leadership in America means more than upholding a proud legacy; it’s about safeguarding our economic and national security. China is rapidly expanding in the global pharmaceutical and biotech sectors—across manufacturing, drug discovery, research, and advanced technologies that fuel innovation.
This isn’t speculation: China’s 2026-2030 Five-Year Plan emphasizes biotechnology and biomedicine as strategic priorities and advocates integrating artificial intelligence across its economy. Chinese companies are already using AI to accelerate target identification, compound screening, and laboratory experiments, thereby advancing drug development.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the risks of overdependence on foreign sources for pharmaceutical supplies, particularly China’s role in supplying active ingredients. While competition is good, relying on a single source can create vulnerabilities.
As China aims to lead in biotech and AI, the stakes are rising. For New Jersey, this signals both a warning and an opportunity. We must ensure that future research, manufacturing, and packaging take place here—ideally in New Jersey.
Achieving this requires more than scientists and labs. It demands infrastructure—wet and dry labs, cleanrooms, advanced facilities, and renovations—to support innovation and production. Skilled workers from New Jersey’s organized trades will be essential. This partnership between the life sciences industry and organized labor is vital.
Pharmaceutical companies rely on skilled tradespeople to build, maintain, and upgrade the facilities where medicines are researched and produced. When standards involve sterility, temperature control, and automation, precision is crucial. According to PILMA, from 2019 to 2024, New Jersey’s pharma and biotech sectors invested more than $4 billion in construction and completed more than 70 major projects, totaling 5.7 million labor hours.
These efforts go beyond economics—they build the infrastructure that turns scientific breakthroughs into accessible medicines. The partnership succeeds because both sides understand what’s at stake: the industry needs outstanding facilities and talent, while tradespeople provide the expertise and craftsmanship. This benefits New Jersey through investment, jobs, and economic growth, and patients worldwide through life-saving treatments.
As China prioritizes biotech, manufacturing, and AI, America should match this strategic commitment by investing in its own life sciences sector. New Jersey has the companies, scientists, universities, and a world-class skilled construction workforce ready to build the next generation of American medicines. We must not take these advantages for granted.
Our partnership between industry and labor offers a competitive edge—strengthening our economy, creating good jobs, and protecting America’s ability to develop essential medicines.
This is a vital opportunity we should seize.
