Karen Plaut - September Dimensions of Discovery Introduction

September 30, 2024

Dear Colleagues,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

When invited to speak to groups, I often talk about Purdue’s public service mission which plays out with many public benefits such as medical, technical, and educational breakthroughs, but today I want to highlight another: competitiveness.

Earlier this month, Purdue co-hosted the Competitiveness Conversation, a conference that focused on the role of “chips, qubits, and molecules” in bolstering the economic competitiveness of the Indiana-Illinois “innovation corridor.” That event drew 200 leaders from industry, national laboratories, local, state and federal government agencies, and universities involved in semiconductor, quantum and life sciences research.

As leaders in these fields, Indiana and Illinois are well positioned to become even more economically competitive. Our states and citizens will benefit from stronger overall economies, attracting companies and retaining startups, drawing people choosing to pursue studies and careers here, improving educational opportunities and greater investment.  A key means of becoming more competitive is bolstering our innovation ecosystem, and Purdue is a proud contributor to this effort.

This edition of Dimensions of Discovery highlights the latest examples of our research excellence that enhance that ecosystem. These include Purdue’s new research partnerships with Argonne National Laboratory and Bayer, major research support such as funding for all three areas of the NSF semiconductor research program, NIH funding for antiviral vaccine research, a $35M GEAR UP grant to enhance college and career readiness, as well as numerous examples of driving semiconductor, quantum and life science breakthroughs. Attendees at the competitiveness conference also learned about Purdue’s semiconductor workforce development program, state-of-the-art research facilities, and Purdue University in Indianapolis.

With nearly $29 billion in investments flowing into Indiana last year, including from companies and organizations that partner with Purdue to access our expertise, Purdue University in Indianapolis is an important move. It not only enlarges our innovation ecosystem’s presence in the capital city but also expands research and entrepreneurial possibilities.

So, while my public speaking occasions often focus on how Purdue is working - with others - for the public good, to my Purdue colleagues, I say this: the work you do truly matters and is making Indiana and the region more competitive and more attractive to businesses and families.

Thank you for all you do,

Karen Plaut
Executive Vice President for Research