IEDC: New partnership will alter economic trajectory
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Economic Development Corp. has announced a partnership with the Applied Research Institute to jointly develop strategies to attract new businesses and support existing work, especially in the national security and defense sectors. In support of the effort, current IEDC Executive Vice President of entrepreneurship and innovation Dave Roberts will transition into a new role as CEO of ARI.
“Partnering with ARI enables us to play economic offense working on disruptive opportunities that will fundamentally alter the trajectory of our state’s economy for decades to come,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers.
ARI, also known as the Indiana Innovation Institute (IN3), works with academia, industry, and government to create a hub of national security innovation. Moving forward, the organization will also look to secure funding – both public and private – to boost research efforts with the Battery Innovation Center, Emerging Manufacturing Collaboration Center and 5G lab.
“With all that Indiana has going for it, we are ideally positioned to be at the forefront of securing federal funding that will continue to create an economic landscape that is the envy of the Midwest,” said ARI’s newly named CEO Dave Roberts. “ARI’s partnership with IEDC and the state will enable us to leverage Indiana’s assets.”
While much of the work has focused on seeking solutions for emerging technical challenges for the U.S. Department of Defense, the partners look to position Indiana as the leader in semiconductor manufacturing and clean hydrogen fuel.
Roberts says the institute will be better positioned to respond quicker to federal funding opportunities.
The IEDC says the partnership is also about creating higher wage opportunities in a resilient, future-focused economy.
“The market continues to evolve and innovate,” said Chambers. “Indiana’s enhanced focus and partnership with ARI will support Indiana’s unprecedented momentum in securing innovative investments supporting higher wage careers.”
Chambers says Roberts understands the foundation the state has built and the assets Indiana possesses to become the “premier destination for transformative innovators.”
Roberts will transition into his new role later this month.
We’ll have more on the partnership from Roberts in the Tuesday afternoon’s Inside Edge newsletter.