Purdue broadens presence in nation’s capital to deepen service to the nation and advance strategic partnerships

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With a growing strategic presence in the nation’s capital, Purdue University stands at the crossroads of education, research, innovation and industry collaboration with national significance. The university’s new office in Washington, D.C., is designed to amplify its impact in national defense, tech diplomacy, innovation economy, international finance, C-SPAN archive and other areas critical to the United States’ security and economic strength.

Concurrently, the deepening engagement in Washington is further connecting Purdue’s world-class talent and innovation prowess in digital technology and workforce development directly to industry and government leaders.

An integral element of Purdue’s increasing visibility and engagement in the district is the opening of the new Purdue@DC hub. On March 27, Purdue President Mung Chiang, joined by university and national leaders, marked the expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the university’s first physical presence in the capital city. Following the opening, 300 invited guests gathered for a special alumni event celebrating the university’s greater footprint on Capitol Hill. The celebration was capped off with a fireside chat between Chiang and David Malpass, former president of the World Bank who now serves as the Distinguished Fellow of International Finance in the Mitch Daniels School of Business and Inaugural Fellow of Global Business and Infrastructure at Purdue@DC.

Located at 1333 H St. NW, the strengthening presence will serve as a vital link to key university initiatives, including work on hypersonics, small modular nuclear reactors and secure microelectronics. In addition to U.S. security and defense innovation, Purdue’s continued growth will solidify the university’s national conversations in international finance, infrastructure and business — areas where Purdue aims to grow its impact and visibility.

The key hub houses the Purdue Applied Research Institute, the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, as well as student and faculty visitors from all colleges, research centers such as Purdue Policy Research Institute, and Purdue’s federal relations team. It will foster internships, research collaborations and engagement opportunities.

On Wednesday (May 7), Purdue and a coalition of leaders in AI, pharmaceutical manufacturing and public policy launched a national effort in the Dirksen Senate Office Building to onshore pharmaceutical manufacturing in the U.S. by leveraging cutting-edge AI and advanced manufacturing technologies. Coalition representatives signed a historic collaborative accord aimed at transforming this nation’s capacity to make critical medicines during the Capitol Hill summit, titled “Making Medicines in America: How Congress Can Help America’s AI, Biopharma and Manufacturing Industries Make It Happen.”

“Purdue is thoroughly committed to being a key player in national decision-making, helping to inform and shape policy, especially in the areas of national security and defense. This office is a tangible demonstration of that commitment,” said Mark Lewis, president and CEO of the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI).

PARI extends the reach of Purdue’s research and top-ranked academic programs in engineering, agriculture, science and technology.

Purdue’s presence in Washington will also strengthen signature programs like C-SPAN Boilers Go to D.C., an immersive learning experience that explores the intersections of government, media, nonprofits and public service. The program honors the legacy of Purdue alumnus Brian Lamb, founder of C-SPAN and namesake of the university’s Brian Lamb School of Communication.

In addition to connecting students with the policymaking process, the D.C. access reinforces Purdue’s broader talent pipeline — linking West Lafayette, Indianapolis and now the nation’s capital — to create a national corridor of opportunity and engagement for students, faculty, alumni and strategic partners.

“This office is more than real estate. It amplifies our standing as a premier research university at the epicenter of national research and engagement,” said Steve Schultz, Purdue general counsel and chair of the Purdue@DC Council. “This is now home base for renewed efforts to strengthen our existing programs in Washington and launch new initiatives that will bring to bear the talents and energy of Purdue faculty and students in an ongoing quest to contribute to national economic security.”

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.