IUPUI offers more than 130 life and health science-related degrees in 12 schools and graduates more than 1,300 students each year prepared for careers in life and health sciences. In addition, 94% of the research on IUPUI's campus is life and health science related, totaling more than $300 million in outside research funds in 2007 and 2008.
In an age when information is vital, Indiana is fast becoming a global leader. From 2001 to 2006, central Indiana ranked first in high-tech job growth in the Midwest and fourth nationwide. Thanks to aggressive economic development efforts, a network of leading technology and engineering programs at the region's prominent universities and technical colleges, and an entrepreneurial business climate, Indianapolis is seeing unprecedented growth in technology-based enterprises.
Computer systems design was the largest high-tech industry sector in Indianapolis in 2006 with 7,200 jobs. Telecommunications services was second, with 6,200. However, not all of the city's technological expertise is focused in traditional IT professions or businesses; Indianapolis is experiencing unprecedented growth in emerging technology clusters such as advanced manufacturing, logistics, and health and life sciences.
Factors that make Indianapolis an exceptional location for IT businesses include:
Higher Education
The city is home to (or offers easy access to) institutions that offer prestigious technology programs. These include Indiana University (IU), Purdue University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Ivy Tech Community College, and Ball State University.
Research & Innovation
The region's universities give rise to ground-breaking patents and technologies, entrepreneurs, and commercial ventures. IU (Indianapolis and Bloomington) created the first School of Informatics in the U.S. and was the first to offer a PhD in this discipline. The school brings together programs in computer science, new media, and health information technology.
Processing Power
IU hosts the most powerful supercomputer system in the U.S., which is available for use by private Indiana companies.
Investment Capital
Funding sources include the State of Indiana's 21st Century Research and Technology Fund and SBIR matching, as well as a growing number of private investment firms.
Entrepreneurial Resources
Indianapolis is home to technology incubators such as the Indiana University Emerging Technologies Center, the Indianapolis Enterprise Center, and the Purdue Technology Center of Indianapolis. A network of 27 incubators statewide helps accelerate the development, growth, and retention of new ventures. And, resources such as
TechPoint provide educational, networking, and mentoring opportunities as well as legislative advocacy services that help the region's technology businesses remain competitive.
Tax Incentives
The city's technology businesses benefit from state tax exemptions on income derived from patents for new technologies and processes and are eligible for R&D sales tax credits on R&D equipment such as computers and software.
Technology companies that call Indianapolis home include:
- Business Applications: Interactive Intelligence, Fusion Alliance, Exact Target, Author Solutions, Aprimo, Baker Hill, T2 Systems, Walker Information
- Interactive Media: ChaCha, BitWise Solutions, Cantaloupe
- Education: Pearson Education, Angel Learning
- IT Consulting: Haverstick Consulting, TEKsystems, Crowe Horwath, Hewlett Packard, EDS, G3 Technology Partners
- Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics: BioStorage Technologies
- Medical Technology: Suros, SonarMed, Roche Diagnostics
- Infrastructure: BlueLock, nFrame