New Jersey State Policy Lab

What New Jersey State Policy Lab does

The New Jersey State Policy Lab (NJSPL) is a non-commercial, evidence-based policy research organization established in 2021 and housed within the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The lab conducts rigorous, nonpartisan research and analysis to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of state and local policies in New Jersey across ten verticals: cannabis, digital equity, economics, education, environment and energy, health, housing, public administration, transportation, and women, children, and families. Its core outputs are publications (blogs and reports), the recurring R/ECON Economic Forecast produced by the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service, annual institutional reports, and the NJ State Policy Updates newsletter. The lab operates a platform-style model in which it solicits research proposals from Rutgers-affiliated scholars and external collaborators, selects and funds projects, and works with project leaders to publish blogs throughout the research process plus a final report at conclusion.

The lab is funded by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and operates as a government-academic partnership rather than a commercially structured entity. It has no disclosed product pricing, no licensing revenue, no venture funding, and no M&A history; its sole financial counterparty is the State of New Jersey through OSHE. Leadership comprises Executive Director Elizabeth Cooner, Principal Investigator Stuart Shapiro (who also serves as Dean of the Bloustein School), Postdoctoral Associate Angie Nga Le, and Research Assistant Ryan Lawrence. The lab leverages a network of Rutgers research collaborators, strategic partners, and state/local government stakeholders, and maintains a presence across a website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and an email newsletter.

The lab does not sell products or services in a commercial sense; its outputs are provided at no cost to government stakeholders and the public. Distribution is regional (New Jersey only), and there is no claim of global footprint, no parent company outside of Rutgers, no subsidiaries, no patents, no certifications, and no AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Its strategic positioning rests on academic credibility, state-level mandate, and a recurring publication cadence that reinforces institutional durability through its fifth year of operation.

Name

New Jersey State Policy Lab

Legal name

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Website

https://policylab.rutgers.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The New Jersey State Policy Lab is a Rutgers University-affiliated, state-funded policy research organization that conducts evidence-based analysis on New Jersey policy issues for state and local government stakeholders and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Curriculum, Standards & Assessment Policy Research (EDADADAH), Public Health Strategy, Policy & Legislation (HLAJAMAA)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Evidence-based analysis
• Public policy
• Economic forecasting
• Government research

Headquarters

HQ city

New Brunswick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grant Funding: The New Jersey State Policy Lab is funded by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE). The organization conducts policy research and analysis for the State of New Jersey.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The New Jersey State Policy Lab conducts rigorous, evidence-based policy research and analysis for the State of New Jersey, covering health, education, housing, economics, environment, public administration, transportation, and other policy areas. It solicits proposals from in-state scholars, evaluates and funds selected projects, publishes blogs and reports throughout the research process, and produces the R/ECON Economic Forecast and annual reports for government stakeholders and the public.

Product overview

The New Jersey State Policy Lab is a policy research organization that functions as a single, unified research platform rather than a multi-product technology company. Its primary offerings include the R/ECON Economic Forecast providing economic predictions for New Jersey, published research reports and blogs covering policy areas (health, housing, education, environment, economics, transportation, and more), annual institutional reports documenting organizational activities, and the NJ State Policy Updates newsletter. All offerings are part of a cohesive evidence-based research mission to improve state policy quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• R/ECON Economic Advisory Service: The R/ECON Economic Forecast provides economic predictions for the Garden State, produced by the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service.

Products and services

• R/ECON Economic Forecast The R/ECON Economic Forecast provides economic predictions and analysis for New Jersey, offering outlooks on economic trends for the Garden State. It is developed by the Rutgers Economic Advisory Service and published through the policy lab.
• Policy Research Publications (Blogs and Reports) Policy research publications including blogs and comprehensive reports covering cannabis, digital equity, economics, education, environment, health, housing, public administration, transportation, and women/children/families. Produced through solicited proposals from scholars throughout New Jersey and published on the lab's website.
• NJ State Policy Updates Newsletter A newsletter providing regular updates on state policy developments in New Jersey, distributed via the Rutgers mailing list and through the policy lab's website.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of the New Jersey State Policy Lab. OSHE provides funding that enables the policy lab to conduct evidence-based research and policy analysis for the State of New Jersey.
• Rutgers University - Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the policy lab. The Bloustein School provides academic infrastructure, faculty resources, and institutional support for policy research activities.
• Rutgers Research CollaboratorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of scholars throughout the Garden State who collaborate on policy research projects, submit proposals for policy analysis, and work with the policy lab to publish findings.
• State & Local GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary stakeholders including state agencies and local government bodies that utilize the policy lab's research to inform policy decisions and programs.
• New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NJSPL on a statewide survey of older adults conducted in February 2024 to gather data on challenges related to aging in New Jersey.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: A leading national think tank producing rigorous, nonpartisan policy research across economics, education, health, and governance — overlapping in mission and methods but at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
• Urban Institute: A major economic and social policy research organization producing evidence-based studies on housing, health, education, and state policy — comparable research methods at far broader geographic and programmatic scale.
• RAND Corporation: A much larger, globally oriented policy research institution with comparable evidence-based research methodology and government clients, but operating at national/international scope rather than a single state.
• Mathematica: A large policy research and data analytics firm conducting evidence-based program evaluation and policy analysis for government and foundations — directly comparable methodology at much larger commercial scale.

Direct peers

• Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC): Statewide, nonpartisan public policy research organization producing surveys, economic forecasts, and policy analysis for California — highly comparable in mission, products (economic forecasts, surveys), and state-government customer focus.
• Rutgers Center for Urban Policy Research: A sister research center at Rutgers University conducting policy research on urban planning, housing, and economic development — a directly comparable university-affiliated policy research unit within the same institutional ecosystem.
• Rockefeller Institute of Government: State-university-affiliated public policy research institute (University at Albany / SUNY) conducting evidence-based research for state government — the closest structural analog to NJSPL's OSHE-funded, university-hosted model.
• New Jersey Policy Perspective: An independent New Jersey-based policy think tank producing evidence-based research on state budget, health, education, and economic issues — directly comparable in mission, geography, and customer base (NJ state policy stakeholders).

Others

• Council of State Governments: A nonpartisan, interstate organization serving all three branches of state government with research, training, and policy tracking — an ecosystem partner that shares NJSPL's state-government customer base without directly competing for research projects.
• National Governors Association Center for Best Practices: A bipartisan organization that develops policy solutions for governors on education, health, energy, and economic issues — an adjacent state-policy ecosystem participant that NJSPL could partner with rather than compete against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/policylab.rutgers.edu
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rutgers-new-jersey-state-policy-lab
• Instagraminstagram.com/njpolicylab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Jersey State Policy Lab