Courtney Kerr, Author at The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership

CICP Launches Catalyst Scholars Fund to Drive Advanced Chemistry Innovation in Indiana

Courtney Kerr2026-03-05T09:52:48-05:00March 5, 2026|

Indianapolis (March 5, 2026) – The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) has announced the launch of the Catalyst Scholars Fund, which marks the first phase of a broader Advanced Chemistry strategy for Indiana. The strategy involves a coordinated effort to position Indiana as the national leader in the development and deployment of technologies needed to reshore and secure critical supply chains for medicines, animal health products, and agricultural inputs, which is a national security priority. The Catalyst Scholars Fund is a five-year initiative to enable Indiana’s leading STEM higher education institutions, including its four R1 research institutions (Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University Indianapolis, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame) along with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to attract world-class research teams in Advanced Chemistry through strategic cluster and eminent scholar recruitment. The Fund will provide matching support for [...]

Conexus Indiana Launches Industry Exchange Workshop Series to Accelerate Technology Adoption in Manufacturing and Logistics

Courtney Kerr2026-03-04T09:36:36-05:00March 4, 2026|

First workshop set for March 31 in Jeffersonville to support small and mid-sized companies INDIANAPOLIS – March 4, 2026 – Conexus Indiana, a statewide organization dedicated to strengthening Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, announced today the launch of the Industry Exchange workshop series, a hands-on learning program designed to help Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) companies navigate technology adoption and corresponding workforce challenges. The Industry Exchange workshop series open to all Indiana AML companies and brings practical frameworks and peer-to-peer learning to small and mid-sized manufacturing and logistics companies who need actionable guidance on building technology roadmaps, assessing digital readiness and aligning workforce strategy with technology investments. The series is informed by insights gathered through workshops and direct conversations with small and mid-sized AML companies across Indiana, which revealed that leaders clearly understand the value of digital [...]

AgriNovus Indiana announces new board leadership, welcomes new directors

Courtney Kerr2026-02-25T14:35:14-05:00February 25, 2026|

INDIANAPOLIS (February 25, 2026) — AgriNovus Indiana, a nonprofit coalition focused on growing Indiana’s agbioscience economy, announced today that Trent Torrance, chief operating officer of United Animal Health, will serve as chair of the organization’s board of directors. The board unanimously approved Tim Bettington, executive vice president for Center of Strategic Growth at Elanco, as its vice chair. Phil Brewer, vice president of strategy at Keystone Cooperative, and Dr. Bernie Engel, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University, were also approved to the AgriNovus Executive Committee. Stéphane Frijia, president and CEO of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, and Drew Garretson, vice president of Innovation and Sustainability at Keystone Cooperative, were unanimously approved as additions to the organization’s Board of Directors. The board also approved the addition of Darren Dillenbeck, CEO of BW Fusion, Mike Jacob, board representative [...]

Blazing a new trail for early-stage innovation: Purdue announces creation of Low Institute for Therapeutics (LIFT) through a generous gift by Phil and Joan Low

Courtney Kerr2026-02-24T14:09:15-05:00February 24, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. The creation of the Low Institute for Therapeutics, which will work toward accelerating lifesaving therapeutics from the lab and into the world by funding necessary early-stage trials in partnership with Purdue University and Purdue Research Foundation, was announced Tuesday (April 29). The announcement was signed by (from left) Philip Low, Purdue's Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery and the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry; Purdue Innovates Senior Vice President Brooke Beier; and Purdue President Mung Chiang. (Purdue University photo/Kelsey Lefever) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Prostate cancer. Malaria. Influenza. All diseases one step closer to eradication thanks to the tireless, lifelong efforts of professor Philip Low. Now he’s [...]

Board of Trustees approves IU Inc., a new nonprofit to accelerate research, advance IU 2030

Courtney Kerr2026-02-24T13:56:27-05:00February 23, 2026|

This post was originally published by Indiana University. Click here to read the original article. As a university-affiliated nonprofit, IU Inc. will help deepen industry collaboration, foster entrepreneurship and business attraction, and expand large-scale research initiatives, while creating new opportunities for faculty and students. INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana University Board of Trustees has authorized the university to form IU Inc., a nonprofit organization designed to expand and enhance IU partnerships with industry, start-ups and government agencies, with the goal of more rapidly transforming discovery into real-world impact for Indiana and the world. IU Inc. will catalyze innovation and new economic activity by driving stronger collaboration between IU’s research enterprise, entrepreneurs and other potential partners, while creating new opportunities for students and faculty to advance transformational research. As the front door for partners seeking to connect to the university’s more [...]

Ascend Indiana Broadens its Reach, Adding Three New Members Named to its Board of Directors

Courtney Kerr2026-02-18T09:24:53-05:00February 18, 2026|

Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), announced today three members to its Board of Directors. The board members include Tina Peterson, president and CEO at Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), Jacqueline Kronk, chief strategy officer at the Office of the Indiana Secretary of Education, and David Umulis, Purdue’s chief academic officer and senior vice provost for Indianapolis. David is replacing board member Dan Hasler (former chief operating officer of Purdue University in Indianapolis) on the Ascend Indiana Board of Directors. “Ascend’s board of directors is in a period of growth and has added key members to help strengthen its position as a statewide workforce development intermediary. Tina brings significant expertise to the board through her regional intermediary work focused on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign and placemaking [...]

A Day of Discovery: Recapping the 2025 See Yourself IN Summit

Courtney Kerr2026-02-12T14:36:07-05:00February 12, 2026|

The 2025 See Yourself IN High School Summit brought together hundreds of high school students, educators, and industry leaders for a day designed to spark possibility and illuminate real pathways into Indiana’s advanced industries. From the moment students arrived at the AMP at 16 Tech on November 13, the energy was unmistakable: curiosity, excitement, and a genuine eagerness to explore what’s possible for their futures. Click here to view photos from this year's event! Learning from the Leaders Who Shape Indiana’s Economy We kicked off the 2025 See Yourself IN Summit with an opening from Kristen Lampkin and Latoya Botteron of CICP, who encouraged students to think boldly about their futures and to go into this day with an open mind of what is out there in Indiana. We then welcomed Olivia West, in-game host for the Indiana Fever [...]

Conexus Indiana names four to Board of Directors and announces Executive Committee appointments

Courtney Kerr2026-02-16T15:38:30-05:00February 12, 2026|

INDIANAPOLIS – February 11, 2026 – Conexus Indiana, a statewide organization dedicated to strengthening Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, announced today four new members to its Board of Directors as well as three appointments to the Board’s Executive Committee.Michael Daniel, Executive Vice President of Operations for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Kierstin Janik, Chief Talent Officer of Heritage Construction & Materials; Mike Wagner, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Jasper Group; and Dr. Ajay Malshe, R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, have joined the Conexus Indiana Board of Directors. Executive Committee Appointments The Conexus Indiana Board of Directors also announced three new appointments to its Executive Committee: Kevin Trivett, Senior Vice President of Device Manufacturing and Packaging Operations, Eli Lilly and Company Scott Meiner, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Lippert Components Susan [...]

2026 Indy’s Best and Brightest finalists unveiled

Courtney Kerr2026-02-06T13:50:53-05:00February 6, 2026|

This post was originally published by Inside Indiana Business. Click here to read the original article. INDIANAPOLIS - Junior Achievement of Central Indiana this week announced the finalists for the 2026 Indy’s Best and Brightest event. The program honors 100 of “central Indiana’s most outstanding young professionals in 10 different industries.” Ten finalists were chosen among 10 categories. Junior Achievement said each finalist is judged on professional accomplishments, civic contributions, character, and leadership qualities. The categories are Accounting; Banking & Financial Services; Education & Nonprofit; Government, Tourism, & Arts; Health & Life Sciences; Law; Manufacturing, Retail & Services; Media, Entertainment & Sports; Real Estate, Development & Construction; and Technology. “These dynamic and forward-thinking leaders are driving positive change in central Indiana, and they continue to serve as inspiration for the thousands of young people engaged in Junior Achievement programs,” Jennifer Burk, [...]

IU LAB marks a year of industry partnerships, bioscience startup growth, student innovation

Courtney Kerr2026-02-02T19:10:20-05:00February 2, 2026|

This post was originally published by Indiana University. Click here to read the original article. The IU Impact: We are advancing bioscience research and innovation, commercialization, industry collaboration and workforce development to grow Indiana’s life sciences economy and improve lives across the state. Indiana is a thriving hub of bioscience innovation, recognized globally as a leader in areas like drug discovery, orthopedics, medical devices, radiopharmaceuticals and neuroscience research. At the center of this momentum is Indiana University, where faculty, staff and students are harnessing IU’s $1 billion research enterprise to strengthen Indiana’s booming $99 billion life sciences economy. In 2023, IU President Pamela Whitten announced a historic investment to accelerate bioscience innovation and improve human health. That commitment was further cemented in 2024 with the launch of the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences. Supported by a $138 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant, IU LAB [...]

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