Governor Braun Announces IN AI to Grow Jobs and Wages Through Human-Centered AI
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
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
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 [...]
Purdue University President Mung Chiang is TechPoint’s 2026 Trailblazer
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 [...]
Amplifying Stories of Innovation in Indiana
Indianapolis (April 15, 2026) – Across our state, innovation is happening in classrooms, research labs, and startups — yet too often, the stories of student founders, faculty innovators, and alumni entrepreneurs remain siloed within individual campuses or industries. The CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) has announced the launch of INfluence: Stories of Indiana Innovation, a strategic effort designed to amplify and share these stories of entrepreneurship and innovation happening across Indiana, ensuring the state’s success is visible, connected, and understood beyond individual campuses, industries, or networks. “By creating an interconnected ecosystem that turns ideas into action, we are ensuring Indiana’s innovators and programs have the visibility and support they need to succeed,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of CICP. “Indiana is no stranger to innovation. From life-saving medicines to advanced manufacturing breakthroughs, discoveries in agbiosciences to new businesses and technologies, Hoosiers have a long history of turning ideas into impact.” Early INfluence stories highlight the [...]
Ascend Indiana launches statewide initiative to expand student-led businesses ahead of 2029 high school diploma requirements
April 14, 2026 (INDIANAPOLIS) - Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), has launched a new initiative to support student-led businesses, defined as real or simulated enterprises that are designed, managed and operated primarily by students. Student-led businesses generally fall into three categories – school-based enterprise, workplace simulation and student entrepreneurial experience – and meet the state of Indiana’s approved work-based learning requirements for new diploma seals legislated for high school students beginning with the class of 2029. Ascend’s student-led business initiative is backed by new research demonstrating the value of student-led businesses as scalable, high-impact work-based learning opportunities, especially in under-resourced communities. “At Ascend, we believe the most effective way to prepare students for the workforce is simple: give them the opportunity to do real work. That’s why we [...]
Eric Christopher named new TechPoint president and CEO
INDIANAPOLIS (April 6, 2026): The CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and TechPoint, the nonprofit industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy, announced today that Eric Christopher will serve as TechPoint’s next president and CEO, effective April 7. With more than 20 years of experience securing venture capital and scaling high-growth software companies, Christopher is recognized as a leader across Indiana’s tech community and throughout the tech industry nationally. Having served as a TechPoint board member since 2018, Christopher has led efforts to expand support and resources for local tech talent to fuel sustained economic growth. “Eric brings the leadership and vision needed to build on Indiana’s growing momentum in technology and digital innovation,” said Aman Brar, a member of the TechPoint Board. “As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies reshape industries and create new opportunities, TechPoint plays a critical [...]
AgriNovus Indiana research unveils focus areas ripe for startup innovation, launches applications for $75,000 Velocity Accelerator
2026 Velocity empowers innovators to build tech solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation, food is health INDIANAPOLIS (March 30, 2026) - AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, released new research today identifying critical challenges ripe for innovation that will serve as the foundation for the 2026 Velocity Accelerator, a six-month program that awards entrepreneurs three separate $25,000 cash prizes for their technology solutions in bioinnovation, farmer-focused innovation and food is health. Conducted by Arrowpoint Labs, the study entitled Advancing Innovation: Priority Areas for Indiana’s Agbioscience Future updates the sector’s economic impact in Indiana, synthesizes insights from key state and national agbioscience leaders and provides problem statements for the innovation community – from students to startups and existing companies – to solve through Velocity. “Velocity is an accelerator that focuses on the core challenges facing our agbioscience industry,” said [...]
Ascend Indiana Launches Regional Work-Based Learning Support Network and Resource Hub
Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce development initiative of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), announced today a statewide initiative to support Indiana schools and employers in developing and implementing high-quality work-based learning experiences for high school students. In partnership with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), Ascend developed and launched a comprehensive set of resources that provides step-by-step guidance, examples and design considerations aligned with Indiana’s updated high school graduation requirements. Ascend has also established and equipped a network of regional partners that will coordinate, expand and enable high-quality WBL across the state. As Indiana’s statewide workforce initiative, Ascend developed these work-based learning resources and accompanying network in response to the state’s high school diploma redesign, which requires students graduating with a readiness seal to have completed sustained WBL experiences aligned to career pathways. “Beginning with the [...]
