November 2, 2006

Purdue President Martin C. Jischke made these comments at the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana in recognition of U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky receiving the Champion of Science Award from the Science Coalition

Visclosky a key Purdue partner in advancing state's economy

We are here today to thank, congratulate and honor Congressman Pete Visclosky. And we are here to celebrate everything that can be accomplished when the public and private sectors partner with major research universities.

I believe that the key to the future lies in partnerships among the public and private sectors, government and higher education.

Six years ago, Purdue University systemwide launched strategic plans. These plans were based on our land-grant missions for learning, discovery and engagement. Our plans at each of our campuses are focused on the educational and economic development needs of our state and communities.

At Purdue University Calumet, our plans are focusing on education and economic development in Northwest Indiana. Purdue Calumet has created new centers and institutes based on the needs and potentials of this region.

These include: the Water Institute, the Center for Energy Efficiency and Reliability, the Center for Minorities and Women in Construction, the Center for Education in Science and Technology, and the Northwest Indiana Center for Evidence-based Nursing Practice.

Our goal at Purdue Calumet was to create 1,260 internships per year. We are approaching 1,500.

We have formed strategic partnerships with businesses and industries vital to this region, such as BP at Whiting.

The Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana, where we are gathered today is an example of what our strategic plans are accomplishing for this region. Moreover, this center is powerful statement about what we can accomplish when we all work together.

This center is good for Indiana. It is good for this region. It is good for Purdue. It is good for the people who live in this corner of our state.

The Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana is a high-tech business incubator growing and nurturing cutting-edge new businesses.

The center, which opened with seven client firms in January 2005, now serves 15 technology-based tenants, four additional tenants and two technology-based affiliate companies. Companies with offices inside the center employ 77 workers, including researchers with advanced degrees, software developers, recent college graduates and interns.

This is the result of Purdue's vision to expand its high-tech entrepreneurship acceleration services to communities across Indiana combined with Congressman Pete Visclosky's successful efforts to secure federal funding for the facility's construction and initial operating costs.

Congressman Visclosky worked tirelessly to secure $6.9 million in federal funds to support this effort. Without Congressman Visclosky, we would not be here today.

This facility and the Purdue University Calumet Academic Learning Center serve as anchors for the surrounding mixed-use business and technology park Ameriplex at the Crossroads. Ameriplex at the Crossroads is under development by Purdue Research Foundation and Holladay Properties.

In February 2006, the park received an official Certified Technology Park designation by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The park has become a major fixture in the high-technology economic development of Northwest Indiana.

Congressman Visclosky's work on the Northwest Indiana Computer Grid is further testament to his dedication to honor American innovation and discovery and keep it right here in Indiana.

With Sen. Richard Lugar, Congressman Visclosky led an effort to build the high-performance computer grid that connects Purdue's West Lafayette campus, Purdue Calumet in Hammond and Notre Dame. The grid also connects to U.S. government research facilities, including Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago. It eventually will be a gateway to other high-performance supercomputer grids throughout the country.

The grid provides supercomputing resources, massive data storage and scientific visualization tools that will allow researchers to conduct research to address real-world issues such as energy efficiency and homeland security.

The Northwest Indiana Computational Grid has just received an additional $5 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy to complete the facilities needed to begin operations.

Cyberinfrastructure is a critical element of scientific research. The Northwest Indiana Computational Grid creates new possibilities to address existing problems, especially the issues important to northwest Indiana.

The award follows a $1.5 million award in 2005, bringing the total award to the Northwest Indiana Computational Grid to $6.5 million. The appropriation effort was again led in Congress by Senator Lugar and Congressman Visclosky.

Congressman Visclosky also has worked with Purdue to advance hydrogen research to develop technologies for a sustainable hydrogen-based energy economy. He has secured $1 million for this program.

As the ranking member on the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman Visclosky has been an advocate for investing in the new energy technologies that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create new opportunities for American innovation, and lessen degradation of the environment.

Again working with Senator Lugar, Congressman Visclosky secured $9.5 million for the construction of an ethanol/biomass energy production plant in Jasper County, Iroquois Bio-Energy Ethanol Plant. This plant not only will create good-paying jobs, but also will serve as an investment in reducing our dependence on foreign oil by creating home-grown energy alternatives right here in Indiana.

Purdue is deeply involved in research on alternative energy sources.

We deeply appreciate Congressman Visclosky's support of Purdue and his partnership with us for economic development in Northwest Indiana.

I would like Congressman Visclosky to join me for this presentation.

Congressman, this national award is present to you for your continued support of federal funding for basic science research. As you have heard, this award is from the Science Coalition.

The Science Coalition is a 63-member organization composed of American research universities. Both Purdue and Indiana universities belong to this organization. Congressman Visclosky was selected for the Champion of Science Award based on a nomination from Purdue.

Congressman, thank you for everything you are doing for Northwest Indiana. Thank you for your partnerships with Purdue.

Congratulations from all of us.

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