Indianapolis, Indiana – Indiana is entering a defining moment in its economic evolution. Once known primarily for its manufacturing heritage, the Hoosier State is now positioning itself as a national leader in biosciences, artificial intelligence, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality. With nearly every major sector experiencing rapid expansion, one institution has stepped forward to ensure that growth is not only sustained but accelerated — Indiana University.
Through new academic-industry partnerships, research initiatives, and hands-on student experiences, IU is helping fuel a statewide transformation. The university’s efforts are aligning directly with the needs of Indiana’s industries, ensuring that innovation, talent, and investment stay right here at home.
A Vision for Indiana’s Future
The numbers behind Indiana’s growth are staggering. The state’s biosciences sector alone generated over $99 billion in economic activity last year, while its hospitality industry attracted 30 million visitors, producing $5.8 billion in economic impact. These figures reveal more than just strong business performance — they underscore a wave of opportunity.
Indiana University has recognized that to harness this potential, academia and industry must work hand in hand. By developing strategic initiatives that combine research excellence with workforce preparation, IU is helping to define Indiana’s next chapter of innovation.
Where Academia Meets Industry
At the heart of this movement is the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences, or IU LAB — a groundbreaking initiative supported by a $138 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The accelerator serves as a bridge between the university’s research ecosystem and the private sector, fostering collaborations that turn discoveries into tangible solutions.
In partnership with the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, BioCrossroads, and IU Health, IU LAB’s mission is simple yet powerful: to improve Hoosier health while driving job creation and investment across the state.
“IU LAB will unlock the potential of human health innovation by connecting ideas, talent and technology across disciplines and sectors,” said David Rosenberg, IU LAB’s president and CEO. “It will do more than advance research; it will drive advancements and commercialization in biosciences that will ultimately shape the future of care, industry and Indiana through collaboration.”
Already, IU LAB is bringing new energy to the state’s biosciences ecosystem. The IU Health Incubator, located within IU LAB, is designed to help up to 40 biosciences startups per year transform innovative ideas into viable companies. Earlier this year, a pre-accelerator program launched in partnership with gener8tor offered startup founders specialized training on refining their business models and raising investment capital.
In October, the LifeTech Accelerator, launched with Plug and Play, BioCrossroads, and IU Health, kicked off a 14-week intensive program to connect 30 startups with industry mentors, workshops, and corporate partners. This initiative will help promising health-tech ventures scale up and make an impact faster than ever before.
Turning Research Into Real-World Solutions
IU LAB is not only helping startups grow — it’s also accelerating the translation of IU’s own research into market-ready technologies. Working with the Convergent Bioscience and Technology Institute, the Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing, and the Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute at IU Indianapolis, the accelerator is helping faculty bring their inventions to life.
Among its many initiatives is the Joint Center of Excellence for Point of Care Precision Medicine, a collaboration between IU and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute. The center’s goal is to revolutionize healthcare by developing new diagnostic tools, therapies, and manufacturing processes. It will also act as a launchpad for new bioscience startups — bridging the gap between scientific discovery and commercial success.
“IU LAB is a powerful catalyst for Indiana’s biosciences sector,” said Vince Wong, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. “By connecting promising startups with the resources and partnerships they need to develop and scale, IU LAB is helping unlock Indiana’s full potential as a life sciences leader.”
Breaking Barriers to Innovation
IU’s role in driving innovation doesn’t stop at biosciences. The university is helping to eliminate the barriers that often slow collaboration between researchers and private companies.
A Master Collaboration Agreement between IU and Cook Medical, one of Indiana’s largest medical device manufacturers, is streamlining how the two entities work together. The agreement allows for faster, more flexible collaboration on everything from research and development to workforce training, credentialing, and technical consulting.
This relationship is already paying off. Researchers at IU’s Fibers and Additive Manufacturing Enabled Systems (FAMES) Lab, part of the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, are working with Cook Medical to develop ultra-thin sensors that could revolutionize surgical procedures. These sensors promise greater precision and safety — proof of how academic expertise can transform clinical practice.
Another IU-led collaboration is the Indiana Musculoskeletal Health Partnership for the Advancement of Care & Treatment, or IMPACT. This consortium brings together more than 100 partners statewide — including Eli Lilly, Zimmer Biomet, BioCrossroads, OrthoWorx, IU Health, and the Regenstrief Institute — to advance musculoskeletal health. By combining academic research with industry innovation, the partnership aims to develop new implants, wearable devices, and diagnostics that will improve mobility and quality of life for patients across Indiana.
Preparing Indiana’s Next Generation of Leaders
While innovation and research are key to economic growth, Indiana University knows that long-term success depends on people — the skilled, motivated professionals who power every industry.
At IU Indianapolis, approximately 90% of graduates remain in the state after completing their degrees, contributing directly to Indiana’s economic vitality. To keep that pipeline strong, the university has built a series of cooperative education programs that allow students to gain real-world experience while earning their degrees.
Students interested in business, finance, or technology can participate in co-op programs with Eli Lilly and Company, where they apply classroom knowledge to real challenges in corporate environments. Others studying hospitality, tourism, and event management can gain experience through a partnership with White Lodging, the company behind the JW Marriott and several other downtown Indianapolis hotels.
Meanwhile, the Kelley School of Business’s Business Plus program connects students to professional placements with Elanco, helping them build experience in one of Indiana’s fastest-growing global companies.
These programs not only give students the skills employers are seeking — they ensure that Indiana’s best and brightest graduates stay to strengthen the local economy.
IU at the Heart of Indiana’s Progress
From high-tech startups to hospitality training, from medical device research to workforce partnerships, Indiana University has positioned itself at the crossroads of innovation and opportunity. Its efforts are reshaping what higher education means for a modern economy — one where academic excellence fuels industrial growth and community prosperity.
As IU continues to expand programs like the IU LAB, strengthen its collaborations with key industry partners, and prepare students to lead in every major sector, its influence is clear: the university is not just responding to Indiana’s growth — it is driving it.
By aligning research, talent, and innovation, IU is helping Indiana take bold steps into the future. Whether through biosciences breakthroughs, precision medicine, or cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, Indiana University is ensuring that the Hoosier State’s next wave of progress is powered by knowledge, collaboration, and homegrown ingenuity.
