The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (CSIT) has celebrated a major milestone for the state’s innovation ecosystem, as multiple CSIT-backed companies and founders have been selected for prestigious honors by the Research & Development Council of New Jersey.
Three prominent Garden State tech companies will receive Edison Patent Awards, while Kathryn Carpenter, founder & CEO of Newark-based Cecilia Materials, has been named the recipient of the Emerging Tech Award.
The accolades will be officially presented at the 47th Annual Edison Patent Awards Ceremony, themed ‘Revolution Through Innovation,’ scheduled for Nov. 19, at Bell Works in Holmdel.
Celebrating New Jersey’s startup pioneers
“CSIT is proud to position New Jersey as a leader in startup creation and entrepreneurial growth, advancing emerging technologies and strengthening the State’s innovation ecosystem,” CSIT Executive Director Judith Sheft. “This year’s recipients demonstrate the progress that CSIT has made in expanding access to capital and strategic resources for New Jersey entrepreneurs.”
According to recent CSIT impact assessments, companies supported by the organization have created nearly 1,800 jobs and raised an astounding $524.5 million in follow-on capital since 2020—more than 20 times the amount originally awarded through CSIT grants.
Emerging tech award winner: Cecilia materials
Kathryn Carpenter of Cecilia Materials will take home the Emerging Tech Award, which honors an early-stage innovation showing exceptional marketplace impact. Cecilia Materials transforms industrial plastic waste into high-value advanced carbons. The company has leveraged multiple CSIT initiatives, including the Clean Tech Seed R&D Grant, the Pilot Clean Tech Demonstration Grant, the SBIR/STTR Bridge Grant, and the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Pilot Program.
“To be honored alongside the legacy of Thomas Edison is a humbling milestone for the team,” Carpenter said. “We are proud to be a part of an ecosystem that supports pushing these boundaries.”
Edison patent award recipients
Three innovative New Jersey firms were selected for Edison Patent Awards based on the novelty, utility, socioeconomic value, and commercial impact of their patented technologies:
- 13 Mari Ltd. (Kearny): Developed novel passive boundary control technology. A recipient of the Clean Tech Seed Grant Round 2, founder Dr. Krassi Fotev noted that initial CSIT funding was critical for the firm’s early experimental investigations.
- Chiral Photonics, Inc. (Montville): Recognized for advancing multicore fiber as next-generation optical infrastructure. The company utilized funding through the SBIR/STTR Bridge Grant and the NJEDA Manufacturing Voucher Program.
- Innerstill (Hopewell): Honored for world-class neurotechnology development. The startup received a Catalyst R&D voucher and a Maternal and Infant Health R&D Seed grant.
“Transformational technologies require more than a big idea—they require an ecosystem willing to help bring that idea to life,” Ellyn Ito, Co-Founder and CEO of Innerstill, said.
