New EntreWorks report outlines opportunities to boost  innovation and entrepreneurship in Indiana

2024-12-18T23:59:38-05:00December 17, 2024|

Indianapolis, IN – With a focus on expanding Indiana’s entrepreneurial environment, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and AgriNovus Indiana today unveiled their new report, Unlocking IP: Leveraging Indiana’s R&D Assets to Boost Entrepreneurship. In partnership with EntreWorks Consulting, the report outlines opportunities to increase support for startups, identify emerging programs and priorities, and create a base of home-grown tech talent and an expanded innovation network across the state. “Indiana is often cited as one of the best places to start a business, which is a great starting point,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “The data released in this report confirms that while we have some great strengths to build up, we have more work to do to as we still lag behind our peers in number of actual new business start-ups per year.  The [...]

Central Indiana Corporate Partnership announces senior leadership appointments across BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint

2024-12-19T00:27:36-05:00December 12, 2024|

INDIANAPOLIS – The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), alongside its branded initiatives BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint, today announces the appointment of three senior leaders who will play pivotal roles in shaping the future of Indiana’s life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics and technology sectors. Douglas Kiehl, Patrick “PJ” McGrew and Casey Osterkamp joined BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint, respectively, in senior leadership roles on December 10. “As we ensure the strength of Indiana’s advanced industries, these strategic hires underscore our commitment to building a thriving, innovative economy,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “Doug, PJ and Casey each bring a depth of expertise that will help us tackle workforce challenges, advance technological adoption and foster cross-sector collaboration. Together, they will elevate our efforts to position Indiana as a global leader in innovation and talent [...]

New study shows Indiana’s agbioscience sector contributes nearly $70B to state’s economy

2024-12-20T21:54:19-05:00July 16, 2024|

AgriNovus Indiana-commissioned study benchmarks state’s global competitiveness, defines three priority opportunities for the future INDIANAPOLIS — AgriNovus Indiana, an initiative to grow the agbioscience economy, released new research today that found Indiana’s agbioscience sector contributes $69.6 billion to the state’s economy and identified forces expected to shape its global competitiveness. Conducted by RTI International, the study entitled Accelerate 2050: A Vision for Indiana Agbioscience, identified the state’s relative economic performance across food, animal health, plant science, agtech and production agriculture and defined priority opportunities to position Indiana’s agbioscience economy for differentiated growth amid future uncertainty. “Agbioscience is a critical contributor to economic growth and is connected to every person on the planet given it centers on food,” said Mitch Frazier, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “This new research not only defines the [...]

Central Indiana Corporate Partnership marks 25 years of contributing to prosperity for future generations and economic growth across Indiana

2024-06-13T08:42:10-04:00June 13, 2024|

WATCH the CICP 25th Anniversary Video Here. INDIANAPOLIS - The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) started in 1999 with a bold vision to bring together corporations, foundations and educational institutions to transform the economy of Indiana, and through significant achievements, today is marking 25 years. “Indiana is a unique place where collaboration is central to what we do to drive the Indiana economy,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “Throughout the past 25 years, CICP has brought together leaders from industry and educational institutions to take on big challenges and create opportunities to move our economy into the future. It is that kind of collaboration that has sustained Indiana and helped to create strong, emerging sectors that will lead us into the decades ahead.” To advance its mission, CICP sponsors five key talent and industry sector initiatives AgriNovus [...]

Central Indiana Corporate Partnership public education program helps young people explore careers and jobs in Indiana’s advanced industries

2024-06-10T10:00:06-04:00May 22, 2024|

INDIANAPOLIS - With a dedicated focus on our state’s economic future, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) is showcasing See Yourself IN – a new public education program to help young people explore career and job opportunities within Indiana’s advanced industries. “Indiana is a leader in advanced industries that drive our economy’s prosperity,” said Melina Kennedy, CEO of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “However, many of our Gen Z population are not aware of the many career paths and opportunities in these industries so they can’t see themselves in the future and how they fit. We want to help inspire more young people to dream big and help them explore innovative companies, jobs and programs so they can see themselves in great jobs and a great life right here in Indiana.” Through See Yourself IN, Gen Z Hoosiers and those here [...]

CICP releases 2023 annual report

2024-04-26T10:56:23-04:00April 25, 2024|

CICP has released its 2023 annual report, marking another transformative year for the organization, its five talent and industry sector initiatives and its programs. Melina Kennedy, CICP’s new CEO assumed her role in February, and the organization saw leadership changes with two of its initiatives Ascend Indiana and BioCrossroads. In addition, Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech, was named the chair of the CICP Board of Directors. CICP’s initiatives AgriNovus Indiana, Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint continued to advance their talent programs and enhance their respective sectors, agbiosciences, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics and technology. 2023 saw CICP bring together hundreds high school students, industry and education leaders as part of the See Yourself IN Summit. See Yourself IN is a public education program aimed at educating a Gen Z audience on the jobs, companies and opportunities [...]

CICP unveils AI survey results to explore organization usage and overall interest of AI adoption statewide

2024-04-19T12:05:50-04:00March 19, 2024|

INDIANAPOLIS — Exploring how key industry sectors in Indiana are using or plan to use artificial intelligence (AI), the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) today unveiled results from its AI in Indiana survey, which was administered statewide last fall in partnership with two of its branded initiatives – Conexus Indiana and TechPoint. The AI in Indiana survey generated nearly 200 responses with 55 percent indicating the adoption of at least one AI capability—a share in-line with McKinsey & Company’s Global Survey on AI, a widely recognized survey that inspired CICP’s survey questions and has been used by economists and community leaders to track the progress of tech adoption. McKinsey & Company’s Global Survey on AI finds that, while some companies are AI leaders, it is still “early days” regarding broad-based AI adoption. The AI in Indiana survey also found that [...]

Purpose Jobs recognizes CICP and TechPoint as top economic development organizations in emerging Tech Hubs 2024

2024-02-29T09:25:49-05:00February 27, 2024|

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 27, 2024) – Purpose Jobs, the largest community of purpose-driven startup and tech professionals, today announced five Indiana organizations as among its 30 Best Economic Development Organizations in Emerging Tech Hubs in 2024, including the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and TechPoint. The list covered organizations serving Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Also listed from Indiana were Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation and the Applied Research Institute, also based in Bloomington. “The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and TechPoint make critical connections for startups, tech workers, and investors in the growing Indianapolis tech market,” said Ryan Landau, Founder and CEO of Purpose Jobs.  “We are excited to celebrate their work and their current and future impact on the region.” Purpose Jobs described the organizations on the list as “the backbone of emerging tech hubs, providing invaluable support, resources, and [...]

Indiana leaders form coalition to build, grow youth apprenticeship

2024-01-23T08:25:38-05:00January 23, 2024|

Business, education, government and philanthropic leaders join forces to help solve workforce development crisis INDIANAPOLIS – More than 100 Indiana leaders, including corporate CEOs, university presidents, K-12 superintendents and state government officials, have joined a coalition to develop a statewide modern youth apprenticeship system in Indiana as one potential solution to the state’s mounting workforce crisis. The group recently kicked off a 10-month Implementation Lab (referred to as an iLab), an intensive collaborative that will result in a comprehensive, statewide plan to increase the number of available modern youth apprenticeships. The youth apprenticeship model allows 11th grade high school students to participate in a three-year, paid work-and-learn program. The apprenticeship culminates in a high school diploma, college credit and an industry credential, while at the same time preparing students for in-demand careers. CEMETS iLab Indiana is the brainchild of Ursula [...]

Ascend Indiana names new President and CEO and New Board Chair

2023-12-21T08:17:18-05:00December 21, 2023|

INDIANAPOLIS – The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and Ascend Indiana announce that Conexus Indiana COO and Chief Talent Officer Brad Rhorer has been named president and CEO of Ascend Indiana, CICP’s talent and workforce development initiative, and will succeed Jason Kloth in January. Concurrently, Board Vice Chair Bridget Boyle, head of people and culture for Roche Diagnostics, has been named chair of the Ascend Board of Directors, succeeding founding chair Mark Hill, who will step down at the beginning of the year. In October, Ascend Indiana announced that President and CEO Jason Kloth would step down on January 1, 2024. Kloth helped to create the talent and workforce development initiative nearly nine years ago and grew it into an organization that received more than $50 million in philanthropic funding since its inception in 2016 and has connected more than 4,700 [...]

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