Purdue University plans to get more involved in high-tech economic development efforts across the Northern Indiana Corridor, according to a report posted on SouthBendTribune.com. The effort, called the Northern Indiana Corridor effort, plans to make use of academics and research in high-tech ventures—including packaging, wireless technology, electric vehicles and other “new economy” efforts—to boost the economy, Purdue leaders announced Friday.
The effort also will push more collaboration among the Purdue University North Central campus in Westville, the Purdue campus in Calumet, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and the main campus in West Lafayette. The collaboration will share faculty expertise, facilities and research activity across the four campuses, and involve work with Ivy Tech Community College and other colleges on job development and transfer programs.
“We’re planning a concerted effort to grow the economy of northern Indiana through education, technology development and research that is specific to the economic strengths of those communities,” Purdue President France A. Córdova said.
North Central has helped create a conservancy district to attract new businesses. The campus also has been active in fostering cooperative economic development efforts in LaPorte County among Michigan City, LaPorte and the county, according to the university. The move is spurred in part by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s goal of creating more effective roles for the state’s regional public university campuses.
