New Program Targets NW Indiana Startups
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Purdue Research Foundation says it will offer resources at reduced costs for northwest Indiana startups looking to commercialize licensed technologies from any university in Indiana or Illinois. President Dan Hasler says the initiative includes deep discounts for the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana in Merrillville. He says the pilot program could expand to other regions if successful.
April 15, 2014
News Release
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. and WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Research Foundation officials today (April 15) announced a program to provide its award-winning entrepreneurial programs and facilities at reduced costs for entrepreneurs commercializing patented technologies licensed from any Indiana or Illinois institution of higher education.
Dan Hasler, president and chief entrepreneurial officer of Purdue Research Foundation, said the program includes a 50 percent discount for up to two years of rental space in its 60,000-square-foot Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana.
“As Indiana's land-grant university, one of Purdue's goals is to support technology transfer activities and encourage entrepreneurs across the state to move university innovations to the public in an expedient and cost-effective way,” Hasler said. “Indiana has more than 30 universities that are already doing this with great success, and Purdue already has a strong asset in Merrillville that gives us the opportunity to offer expanded services and space to help grow our entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northwest Indiana.
“Because of the close ties Northwest Indiana has to the Chicagoland area and the requests we have received from startups coming from that area, we are offering the same opportunity to startups commercializing patented technologies from Illinois institutions of higher education.”
The 60,000-square-foot Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana has multiple office and lab spaces for startups and is part of the award-winning entrepreneurial programs and facilities provided through the Purdue Research Park network. (Purdue Research Foundation photo)
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The Purdue Technology Center, established in 2005, is an Indiana Certified Tech Park and based in the Purdue Research Park of Northwest Indiana. With four locations stretching from Northwest to Southeast Indiana, the park network has won numerous state and national economic development awards for its success in fostering entrepreneurialism and startups. The park network is home to nearly 260 companies where more than 4,500 people earn an average annual wage of $63,000.
“We are working together to strengthen Northwest Indiana's economy and to support initiatives that create jobs,” said U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky. “Our region's higher education network is one of our strongest resources to develop high-tech innovations, and I applaud Purdue University for taking this outstanding initiative to support entrepreneurs.”
Amenities for entrepreneurs offered through the Purdue Research Park include:
* Class A, secure office space.
* Conference room availability.
* 20-Gb redundant Ethernet connected to redundant Tier 1.
* VoIP telecommunications system.
* Managed business center with mail services.
* Shared office services including receptionist services.
* Basic utilities and waste management services.
About Purdue Research Park
The Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette is the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park has four sites in Indiana located in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany. When established in 1961, the park was the third such park established in the U.S. The Association of University Research Parks recognized Purdue Research Park with the 2011 “Creating the Culture of Innovation Award” and the 2004 “Outstanding Science/Research Park Award.” The National Business Incubator Association presented the park with the 2010 “Innovation of the Year Award” and the International Economic Development Council honored the park with the 2009 “Excellence in Economic Development Award.”
Source: Purdue University