New Name, First Contract For Defense Tech Institute
IN3
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Innovation Institute, formerly known as the Applied Research Institute, is kicking off a rebranding with the announcement of its first contract. The $2.3 million trusted microelectronics collaboration with Purdue University also includes researchers and personnel from the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame. The work involves rapid development of counterfeit-resistant technology that is immune to global attacks for the U.S. Department of Defense and industry stakeholders.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, IN3 Chief Executive Officer Gene Renuart says the new brand puts the state at the forefront and keys on the three words in the new name. "We wanted to describe that this was an entity that was really focused on not only the research, but producing then, something from that that had real value either to the defense world or to industry or to individual consumers," he said.
He adds it "demonstrates the state’s ability to bring together an all-star group of leaders, top researchers and talent in government, industry and academia, along with a streamlined approach to drive applied research in a new direction. Our resources and partnerships allow us to work on projects that push the pace of innovation to achieve faster solutions that impact people’s lives. In addition, the opportunities for regional economic development offer great promise to benefit the I-69 corridor and Indiana as a whole."
IN3 says trusted microelectronics are integrated into "virtually all military products" — a $189 billion commercial industry. The institute was launched following a $16.3 million investment from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of a $42 million effort to boost economic development activity in southwest central Indiana. Last year, the burgeoning institute detailed a two-year, $3.5 million focus on microelectronics. Renuart tells Inside INdiana Business he sees opportunities in technologies like electro-optics, hypersonics and sensor and data fusion. "Our role is to really look for those competitive opportunities that can bring Indiana’s strengths to bear, coordinate amongst the partners to create a coalition, if you will, that is hard to replicate anywhere else," he said "and then go out and make the case that Indiana is a great place to bring that because of it’s capacity in follow-on activities after the research is done, after the prototyping is done to be able to incubate businesses that will be good for the state, as well."
Purdue President Mitch Daniels, who is part of the IN3 board says "there is an obvious need in this country for more security in our electronics, especially those used in our national defense. Purdue is a global leader in nanoscale modeling, microelectronics fabrication, and cybersecurity. When we combine our strengths with those of our capable partners at Indiana University, Notre Dame, and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, I have no doubt that we will soon come up with innovative solutions to this problem."
The nonprofit institute is set up to bring top stakeholders from government, military, industry and academia together with NSWC Crane. You can connect to more about IN3 by clicking here. The main IN3 office is in Indianapolis, but the organization has a presence at the WestGate Academy Conferencing and Training Center in Odon and on the Purdue and IU campuses in West Lafayette and Bloomington.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, IN3 Chief Executive Officer Gene Renuart says the new brand puts the state at the forefront.