Indianapolis, Indiana – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a significant achievement for Indiana’s Regional Tech Hub, which has been awarded approximately $51 million. This funding will support the implementation of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) program. Indiana was designated a Tech Hub in October 2023 through the Applied Research Institute’s (ARI) Heartland BioWorks hub.
Advancing Indiana’s Tech Capabilities
Governor Eric J. Holcomb expressed his enthusiasm for this development, stating, “Indiana’s new Tech Hub designation has opened our state up to the next level of opportunities. Now that we have been awarded nearly $51 million to support the implementation, it’s full steam ahead in workforce development and building the specific talent pipelines to support the exact type of innovative business growth and entrepreneurship we want.”
The Tech Hubs program, created by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and co-authored by Indiana’s U.S. Senator Todd Young, provided the foundation for this grant. Out of nearly 380 applicants, ARI’s Heartland BioWorks was one of 31 to receive a Tech Hub designation and one of only 12 to win implementation funding.
Securing America’s Biotech Future
“This grant validates Governor Holcomb’s vision for creating an economy of the future, and confirms what our ecosystem has known for a long time—that Indiana is a global pioneer in biotech production,” said ARI CEO Dave Roberts. “Heartland BioWorks is securing America’s biotech future, and this funding will provide critical support to accelerate workforce development and remove barriers for entrepreneurs bringing new biotech products to market.”
The exact amount of the award will be finalized in the coming months. The funding will support several key projects aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth in the biotech sector:
- Attracting and Connecting Workers: Focus on including historically excluded groups in the innovation workforce, providing quality jobs.
- Establishing a Formal Network: Offer navigation resources, mentorship, and greater access to facilities and venture capital funding to help innovators successfully scale and launch their bioproducts in the region.
- Constructing BioWorks HQ: A hands-on biomanufacturing training facility for diverse participants to enter the workforce and for current employees to upskill, as well as a testing and demonstration site for biotech innovations.
- Implementing a Grant Program: Assist early-stage innovators in overcoming cost barriers to accessing product development facilities, ensuring biotech inventions and supply remain in the U.S.
- Developing Training Pathways: Leverage curricula from Indiana’s higher education institutions and other globally recognized training programs to prepare participants for high-quality jobs in biomanufacturing operator and lab technician roles.
Collaboration Across Sectors
Heartland BioWorks is a consortium led by ARI, bringing together key stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and nonprofit sectors to ensure that bioproducts invented in America are also manufactured domestically. The consortium includes major companies such as Eli Lilly, Elanco, Corteva, INCOG, and Roche, along with academic institutions like Indiana University, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, and Ivy Tech Community College.
Centered in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, Heartland BioWorks will leverage Indiana’s unparalleled resources and capabilities to secure the nation’s biomanufacturing future. The collaborative efforts are expected to drive significant economic growth, innovation, and job creation in the region.
For more information about Heartland BioWorks and its initiatives, visit Heartland BioWorks.
