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 Indiana, Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint, each of which addresses challenges and opportunities unique to its respective area: agbioscience, talent and workforce development, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics and technology.
CICP has been instrumental in creating strategies, programs, projects and initiatives that are positively impacting Indiana.
- Talent and workforce projects led to the creation of Ascend Indiana.
- Placemaking strategies led to the creation of the 16 Tech Innovation District.
- Life sciences strategies led to the creation of AgriNovus Indiana and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute.
- Building equity for Indianapolis led to the creation of Business Equity for Indy, which convenes business and community partners to foster inclusivity and economic opportunities for Black residents and people of color in the region.
- Strategic technology collaborations led to AnalytiXIN, which is developing a digital ecosystem to connect university assets and talent to industry needs through Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame.
- Regional engagements led to the Applied Research Institute, a non-partisan leader that collaborates with cross-sectional partners on a wide spectrum of technology focus areas including semiconductors, hypersonics, hydrogen and battery technology.
- Public education for talent led to See Yourself IN, a new program to help young people explore career and job opportunities within Indiana’s advanced industries through a webpage, videos, a podcast, articles and more.
“CICP has grown into a transformational leadership body in central Indiana and is a ‘force for good’ for the entire state,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president, Ivy Tech Community College, and chair of the CICP Board of Directors. “As a CEO organization of business, higher education, and philanthropy, CICP’s focus on the prosperity and quality of life of Hoosiers has transformed Indiana’s economy for future generations. No other state has initiatives like AgriNovus Indiana, Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana and TechPoint, providing thought leadership and strategy across industry sectors and horizontals. We applaud Lilly Endowment Inc. for their investment and long-term commitment to this innovative and collaborative effort.”
With a focus on key advanced industry sectors, CICP is helping to strengthen these drivers of the Indiana economy.
“Indiana’s advanced industries are an indicator of our success and our ability to compete nationally and internationally,” said Latoya Botteron, president and CFO, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. “It’s important that we continue to retain our advanced industries to give us that competitive edge and CICP has been instrumental in growing these key industry sectors.”
| Total Economic Activity | Establishments | Jobs | Accomplishments | |
| Agbiosciences | $91.4 billion | 5,032 | 97,005 | The sector’s economic output grew by $6 billion between 2019-2021 – the fastest rate of growth since the agbiosciences were first quantified more than ten years ago. |
| Life Sciences | $94.6 billion | 3,100 | 66,971 | Indiana ranked second among states in all life sciences exports in 2023 – and first among all states in pharmaceutical exports. |
| Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics | $547.9 billion | 16,108 | 699,599 | Indiana is the most manufacturing intensive state in the nation. The Hoosiers who make and move goods truly drive the state’s economy and are relied on all over the world.
724 million tons of freight move through Indiana annually. |
| Tech | $52.8 billion | 10,204 | 70,920 | The tech sector is just a slice of tech’s impact on Indiana’s economy. There are more than 119,000 tech workers found throughout all Indiana sectors. |
To learn more about the work of CICP, its initiatives and partners, visit www.cicpindiana.com.
About Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) was formed in 1999 to bring together the chief executives of the region’s prominent corporations, foundations and universities in a strategic and collaborative effort dedicated to Indiana’s continued prosperity and growth. To advance this mission, CICP sponsors five key talent and industry sector initiatives, AgriNovus Indiana, Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana, and TechPoint, each of which addresses challenges and opportunities unique to its respective area: agbiosciences, talent and workforce development, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics, and technology. To learn more about CICP, visit www.cicpindiana.com.
Quotes from CICP Initiative Leaders
- “The agbioscience economy is where food – our most basic of needs – originates. As innovation continues to accelerate across food, animal health, plant science, agtech and agriculture, opportunities abound for innovators across all industries to work together to build strength and resilience in the next chapter of Indiana’s economy. Through its initiatives like AgriNovus, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership is making that happen by uniting leaders in business, academia, government and philanthropy to differentiate Indiana’s approach to growth as we build the economy of the future.” – Mitch Frazier, president and CEO, AgriNovus Indiana
- “Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) has been the undisputed leader in identifying and supporting Indiana’s leading advanced industry sectors. Through four industry-led initiatives, CICP has helped to strengthen Indiana’s economy and identify continued growth opportunities while providing good and promising careers for Hoosiers. As CICP’s workforce development initiative, Ascend Indiana is positioned now – better than ever – to help develop the talent that will drive Indiana’s economy of the future.” – Brad Rhorer, president and CEO, Ascend Indiana
- “Over the past quarter-century, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) has been instrumental in catalyzing unparalleled growth and innovation across Indiana’s key economic sectors. BioCrossroads is proud to have contributed to this journey by steering Indiana’s life sciences sector to new heights. Our collaborative efforts have not only solidified Indiana’s position as a critical hub of life sciences innovation but have also driven significant economic advancement and job creation across the state. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to further enhancing the vibrant ecosystem that CICP has nurtured, ensuring Indiana continues to thrive at the forefront of global innovation.” – Vince Wong, president and CEO, BioCrossroads
- “The formation of CICP, 25 years ago, has long since been heralded by other regions of the country as the way to grow and prosper the local economy. By organizing its initiatives to focus on the most essential business sectors of Indiana’s future, CICP has been and will continue to be instrumental in shaping the future of work in our state. The advanced manufacturing and logistics industries, in particular, have come to rely on the work of CICP and Conexus Indiana to affirm Indiana as an industry powerhouse.” – Fred Cartwright, president and CEO, Conexus Indiana
- “It’s near impossible to accurately measure the impact of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP). The tech sector now contributes close to $53 billion to the state’s economy, and our programs, supported by CICP, help more than 10,000 tech companies grow in the state. In the past 25 years, we have helped create an environment that inspired the growth of the state’s tech and innovation community. Now more than ever, tech has a transformative role in uplifting key economic sectors in our state. CICP’s support has been invaluable as we explore new and more impactful ways to help talent, companies and organizations gain the skills and knowledge needed to enter and thrive in a tech-centric world. It is an honor to be part of this important work, which we are certain will continue to provide positive impact for the state and its citizens.” – Ting Gootee, president and CEO, TechPoint
