Indiana Life Science is Rapidly Going to Grow

Late last year, Indiana was one of the states that received a huge tech hub designation from the federal government. Now, leaders from our statewide life science industries are actively working on plans to take the sector to a whole new level. We’re talking about potential billions invested into new breakthroughs in manufacturing, biosciences, medicine, research, and much more. And it’s all starting with a new industry-wide plan for how we’ll get there.

What is the Tech Hub Designation?

Indiana received two tech hub designations and a grant award for a third project in late 2023 from the federal government. These hubs were part of the CHIPS and Science Act funding, and they are intended “to drive regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness.”

“Our Tech Hubs Program… will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st century job opportunities in people’s backyards,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

A total of 31 tech hubs were designated across the country. Indiana has two – Heartland BioWorks, which is focused on biologics manufacturing, and The Bloch Tech Hub, which will be working on quantum computing and communications in IN, IL, and WI.

There was also a grant awarded at the same time for the Midwest Wireless Innovation Strategy Development Consortium, which will develop a regional strategy to accelerate wireless technologies and networks.

Heartland BioWorks is a Game-Changer

For the life science sector, the certification of Heartland BioWorks as a tech hub was game-changing news. The project aims to make “Central Indiana into a global leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing by increasing the region’s capacity to make and deploy life-saving medicines.”

This hub will be based in Bloomington, IN and will be a consortium led by the Applied Research Institute.

Indiana is already a national leader in pharmaceutical exports and ranks third in overall life sciences exports, with $13 billion in 2022. Heartland BioWorks is going to take the industry much further, backed by a new growth strategy from many major players in the life science field and the future opportunity for direct federal investment.

The Plans

After the federal designation, leaders from the Hoosier life science sector released their plans for growth. Officials from BioCrossroads, a statewide organization that works to advance the Indiana life science sector, released a roadmap that was formed in collaboration with TEConomy Partners, a firm that provides research and analytics for economic development.

“The recent Tech Hub designation, combined with BioCrossroads’ enhanced strategy, is a pivotal moment for our state,” said Dave Roberts, CEO of Applied Research Institute (ARI). “This alignment of strategic vision and federal recognition will engage innovators across Hoosier communities and will be key to integrating advanced technologies.”

Some of the highlights from the growth strategy included:

• New Manufacturing Hubs: The plan seeks to transform Indiana’s life sciences sector through the development of strategic manufacturing hubs and targeted investments that enhance our domestic manufacturing capabilities. The goal is to position the state as both the national leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing and a top-five leader in medical device manufacturing.
• Boosts to the Talent Pipeline: Officials said the development of skilled professionals will be crucial for sustaining and advancing Indiana’s life sciences sector. Thus, their plan has an intentional focus on education and talent development.
• Enhancements to Our Strengths: There are a lot of areas in life sciences where Indiana is already strong, so the plan calls for big enhancements to our existing capabilities. Specifically, three of them – neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases, pharmaceuticals and biomanufacturing, and cutting-edge orthopedic advances.
• Much Greater Collaboration: As a fourth primary goal, the industry is going to have to bring a wide selection of stakeholders to the table to ensure all this growth will occur. The plan is to foster engagement and collaboration among groups like research universities, early-stage entrepreneurs, companies, and others. Officials said these efforts will not only boost the talent-to-industry pipeline but will also directly addresses the challenge of human capital flight, otherwise known as “brain drain.”

Pivotal

At this point, it feels like we’re set to see a wave of economic activity happen across Indiana life sciences, manufacturing, medicine, and so much more. This is just the start of what could emerge as a major new chapter for Indiana industries, and it’s all happening right now.