Courtney Kerr, Author at CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership

Central Indiana excelling in life sciences, but it needs a brand, speakers say

Courtney Kerr2026-04-28T15:19:54-04:00April 28, 2026|

This post was originally published by Indianapolis Business Journal. Click here to read the original article. Central Indiana is a world leader in life sciences innovation, but the region needs to develop a distinct brand and message to continue its momentum, speakers said Thursday at IBJ’s Life Sciences Power Breakfast. Keynote speaker Chad Shearer, director of research for New York-based The Global Institute on Innovation Districts, told an audience of about 350 attendees in the life sciences sector that central Indiana stands apart as a region in nearly every category of invention and innovation. The CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership hired The Global Institute on Innovation Districts to help it develop a unified brand and message around life sciences, identify the region, encourage investment, attract talent and set the region apart globally as a hub for research, development and [...]

Conexus Indiana Officially Launches Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics Industry Talent Association Following Successful Pilot Year

Courtney Kerr2026-05-04T15:19:58-04:00April 28, 2026|

Manufacturing leaders establish Indiana’s first statewide structure for defining occupational standards in advanced manufacturing and logistics INDIANAPOLIS – April 29, 2026 – Conexus Indiana, today announced the official launch of the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics Industry Talent Association (AML ITA), Indiana’s first employer-led initiative dedicated to defining occupational standards and aligning talent development systems for the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) sector. The launch follows a successful pilot year in which Indiana manufacturers, educators and workforce partners built the foundation of a new approach to talent development, one in which employers help define the competencies that education and workforce systems align to. The AML ITA was established to address a persistent gap in Indiana’s manufacturing talent pipeline: the disconnect between existing training programs and the full range of skills required in modern production environments. Rather than asking employers to [...]

David Rosenberg: Future of American biotech is being built in Indianapolis

Courtney Kerr2026-04-28T15:00:42-04:00April 28, 2026|

This post was originally published by Indianapolis Business Journal. Click here to read the original article. Last year, a small team of scientists in Indianapolis discovered a method for the early detection of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest cancers precisely because it’s so hard to catch in time. Despite what you might assume, these scientists weren’t working out of a gleaming coastal research campus or a well-capitalized Silicon Valley lab. They were members of a startup called Amplified Sciences, operating out of an accelerator in Indiana, surviving on non-dilutive federal funding while racing to close the gap between a promising discovery and a product that could reach patients. This discovery wasn’t a miracle. It was the result of an entire bioscience ecosystem strategically built here in central Indiana. Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Todd Young held a field hearing in [...]

Governor Braun Announces IN AI to Grow Jobs and Wages Through Human-Centered AI

Courtney Kerr2026-04-29T13:09:39-04:00April 28, 2026|

Partnership with CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) Will Reach 1 Million Hoosiers and Engage Thousands of Employers in AI Adoption INDIANAPOLIS (April 28, 2026) – Governor Mike Braun today announced IN AI, a new statewide initiative focused on helping businesses grow, create jobs, and increase wages through the practical application of human-centered artificial intelligence. The initiative will be executed by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and will work directly with employers across the state to accelerate AI adoption in ways that strengthen businesses and expand opportunity for Hoosiers. “Our goal is clear: grow wages, create more high-quality jobs, and position Indiana for long-term economic growth by making it the most AI-ready state in the nation,” Gov. Braun said. “IN AI is about making sure all of our businesses – from Main Street to large organizations -- have the tools and talent [...]

TechPoint Announces Winners of the 2026 Mira Awards

Courtney Kerr2026-04-27T09:26:52-04:00April 27, 2026|

Winners highlight the people, companies and partnerships driving Indiana’s tech growth INDIANAPOLIS (April 24, 2026) — TechPoint, the industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy, today announced the winners of the 2026 Mira Awards, known as the “Oscars of Indiana Tech.” TechPoint presented 17 awards at tonight’s celebration, selecting winners from a slate of 106 finalists. A team of independent judges evaluated each finalist following live presentations. In total, TechPoint received 231 submissions for this year’s awards. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Google are the presenting sponsors of the Mira Awards. “The 2026 Mira Award winners directly reflect the key role that technology now plays across every sector of Indiana’s economy,” said Eric Christopher, president and CEO of TechPoint. “From startups to established companies, their innovation, collaboration and true grit are driving productivity, supporting entrepreneurs, and strengthening communities statewide, while setting [...]

Ascend Indiana seeks employer input for new Advanced Industries Workforce Report

Courtney Kerr2026-04-23T12:07:32-04:00April 23, 2026|

April 23, 2026 (INDIANAPOLIS) - Ascend Indiana has launched a statewide employer survey as part of its inaugural Advanced Industries Workforce Report, which is scheduled for public release in August 2026. The report will give Indiana its first unified, data-driven view of how workforce needs are evolving across manufacturing, life sciences, technology and agbiosciences, and is being developed in partnership with CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), AgriNovus Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint – all organizations dedicated to promoting the growth of Indiana’s advanced industry sectors. A key component of the report will include employer insights from the advanced industries. Ascend is asking employers to complete a short (10–15 minute) survey to better understand how jobs are changing across Indiana’s advanced industries and what skills are needed to support technology adoption and innovation. “The Advanced Industries Workforce Report is expected to reveal where demand is growing in Indiana’s advanced industries, what capabilities are most needed, and how to [...]

Rose-Hulman Selected for Prestigious EcoCAR Innovation Challenge

Courtney Kerr2026-05-28T13:23:44-04:00April 23, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. Rose-Hulman has been selected to participate in the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge, a premier four-year collegiate automotive engineering competition led by the U.S. Department of Energy and industry partners including General Motors, Stellantis, and MathWorks. The selection places Rose-Hulman among 20 universities across North America chosen to help shape the future of mobility by developing advanced vehicle technologies and intelligent transportation solutions. The competition officially launched April 13 with public announcement of participating teams found here. Through the challenge, Rose-Hulman students will architect, design, and integrate a high voltage energy storage system and an electric drive unit into a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) platform enabling teams to explore various propulsion and [...]

Rose-Hulman Students Win NCAA Final Four Analytics Challenge

Courtney Kerr2026-05-28T13:24:05-04:00April 23, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. Photo courtesy: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology INDIANAPOLIS – There were more than just men’s basketball teams competing for a championship during this year’s NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis. A team of Rose-Hulman students claimed the undergraduate title in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four Analytics Challenge, outpacing a competitive field of 157 teams from 15 schools to emerge as one of four finalists to compete Monday, April 6—the same day as the national championship game—and ultimately, the winner. The Rose-Hulman “Data Miners” included senior computer science majors Brian Beasley, Matteo Calviello, and Preksha Sarda, senior biomedical engineering major Tommaso Calviello, and sophomore mathematics major Aron Varga. All [...]

Purdue University President Mung Chiang is TechPoint’s 2026 Trailblazer

Courtney Kerr2026-04-23T09:40:10-04:00April 23, 2026|

Chiang to receive award at TechPoint's Mira Awards INDIANAPOLIS (April 23, 2026) — Purdue University President Mung Chiang will be honored as the Indiana tech sector’s 2026 Trailblazer at the Mira Awards on Friday, April 24. The Mira Awards gala, known as “The Oscars of Indiana Tech,” celebrate the state’s most innovative companies, entrepreneurs and leaders. The annual Trailblazer Award recognizes visionaries whose contributions have had a lasting and significant impact on Indiana’s technology ecosystem. Honorees are innovative leaders whose work strengthens the state’s competitiveness and fuels long-term economic growth. Since becoming Purdue University’s 13th president in 2023, Chiang has positioned the institution as both an intellectual and industrial engine for Indiana’s rise as a national technology leader, linking discovery, delivery and talent at a global scale. His blend of deep technical expertise and public-policy experience continues to underpin [...]

Student Voices Powering Ball State’s County Ambassador Program and Encouraging Graduates to Make Indiana Home

Courtney Kerr2026-05-28T13:24:38-04:00April 21, 2026|

This story is part of an initiative led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to highlight entrepreneurship and innovation across Indiana’s universities. Learn more about the initiative here. When Isaac Rogers discusses LaGrange County and Brooke Wagner talks about Wabash County, a common theme emerges from their different experiences: pride, curiosity and a growing sense of possibility. Both represent their home counties as County Ambassadors in Ball State University’s County Ambassador Program. The student-to-student engagement program empowers students to share community pride and to encourage their friends and classmates to consider working or living there in the future. While the program is innovative, its impact is best understood through students like Isaac and Brooke, whose experiences show how a connection to place can shape confidence, career paths and future choices. Isaac joined the County Ambassador Program when [...]

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