Purdue launches brain gain initiative, seeks statewide partners

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Helping Indiana become the country’s biggest “brain gain” state is the goal of an initiative being launched by President Mitch Daniels and Purdue University.

Daniels reported positive results from a pilot of the Purdue Brain Gain Initiative during remarks Tuesday (Nov. 13) in Indianapolis, where he received the Indiana Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Leader of the Year Award.

The Purdue Brain Gain Initiative seeks to invite some of the best talent from around the country — Purdue alumni — to move back to Indiana, where there is a critical need for qualified, experienced talent.

“A few years ago, Indiana reached the top tier in every ranking of good business climates, but the one category where we lag, as our governor points out at every opportunity, is in having sufficient human capital,” Daniels said.

A strong initial response to a pilot outreach program brought more than 220 individuals interested in finding professional opportunities in Indiana. Serious conversations now are under way, Daniels said, with a number of expatriate Boilermakers, including scientists, a legal counsel, a marketing executive and a research physician, for next steps in presenting high-priority candidates to partner companies.

The Initiative is partnering with TMAP, an Indiana startup founded by Purdue alumnus and former trustee Bill Oesterle to connect interested job candidates with appropriate business opportunities.

Last week, Daniels sent a letter to 278 companies in Indiana inviting them to join the program. The initiative is ready to scale up. Next, Daniels will invite other universities statewide to participate and will recruit more companies to the effort.

“Fifteen years ago, many of us adopted as our central goal, the reversal of the state’s brain drain,” Daniels said. “Since that time, Indiana’s population has begun outgrowing our neighbors, including a net in-migration of college graduates, but it’s not nearly enough. This initiative, if we do it right, will be the next great step in strengthening our Indiana community and economy.” 

Media Contact: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu  

Source: Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu