Innovation

Lancaster: Indiana’s advantage comes down to three things: core assets, deep expertise and Hoosiers’ collaborative nature.

Start with industry. Established companies like Zimmer Biomet, Cook Medical and Lilly are here. Some are focused purely on musculoskeletal (MSK) health, and others are increasingly moving their innovation into the space. Add the research and development strength of Indiana’s top colleges and universities, and you have the foundation for world-class public-private partnerships.

Then there are the people. Hoosiers genuinely like working together to move things forward. Put it all together, and you have an environment that can drive MSK innovation with a pace and focus we haven’t seen before. 

Lancaster: IU is the right lead institution for the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana because it connects the academic, clinical and business communities, and it brings the research strength, infrastructure and partnerships needed to turn innovation into economic growth.

As Indiana’s first billion-dollar research enterprise, IU ranks No. 15 nationally for NIH research support and is home to the nation’s largest public medical school. With major investments in biosciences innovation through initiatives like IU LAB, the university is building momentum in translating research discoveries into new technologies, businesses and jobs.

IU’s mission already reaches well beyond advanced education. The university works across the state on workforce and economic development. That broad, intentional approach makes IU a natural home for an effort that brings more than 170 organizations together around a shared goal.

Lancaster: One of our biggest challenges is simply awareness. Researchers, entrepreneurs and investors outside Indiana often don’t realize how rich our ecosystem is, and closing that gap is a priority.

Resources like BioCrossroads, IU LAB, and Plug and Play Indiana, along with many others that are uniquely Indiana, make the state a prime place to discover and develop new technologies and to launch new companies. IU sits at the center of so many of those resources, which puts it in a strong position to tell that story well beyond our borders.

Lancaster: The best way for a company to get involved is to become an IMPACT member partner. There are several ways to join: direct financial support, in-kind support, or serving as a mentor or advisor across the ecosystem.

The opportunities in return are broad. The NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana acts as a connector across the ecosystem, helps build public-private partnerships, and supports startups on their growth journey with resources from our partners.

Lancaster: Innovation in MSK health is about to move faster than ever. Extensive clinical databases, AI tools, the convergence of medtech with MSK care, and new drug-device combinations will all reshape how we improve MSK health and wellness.

The NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana is helping bring those pieces together to launch a bold new era of innovation. Indiana sits at the center of all of them, and we’re uniquely positioned to deliver on that promise.