Welcome Address

Session Overview

To open the Indiana-Illinois Competitiveness Conversation, Purdue University President Mung Chiang shared how the region is growing as a global leader in innovation and workforce development across three pillar and converging technologies: semiconductors, quantum computing, and advanced biology. He highlighted Purdue’s initiatives, including launching the nation's first large-scale semiconductor degree program and building a $3.9 billion fabrication facility for AI memory chips.

Key Session Insights

In his opening statement, President Mung Chiang of Purdue University welcomed participants and distinguished guests. He was delighted by the opportunity to host a Competitiveness Conversation at Purdue. He began on the topic of semiconductors, and particularly Purdue's achievements in semiconductor education and research, including launching the nation's first large-scale semiconductor degree program. He also shared how the CHIPS & Science Act is supporting Purdue and the Microelectronic Commons Program, which is now fostering research partnerships between the university and industry. The announcement of a new $3.9 billion fabrication facility for advanced packaging of AI memory chips, in partnership with South Korean semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix, marks the latest and largest example. According to Dr. Chiang, this facility illustrates Purdue’s dedication to reshoring manufacturing and shoring up chip supply chains in the United States.

“Purdue University, with its excellence at scale, plays a significant role in this ecosystem. We have seen record application numbers and selectivity, with our system now encompassing over 110,000 students. This excellence at scale reflects our commitment to elevating lives, creating jobs, and ensuring national competitiveness.”
Dr. Mung Chiang
President, Purdue University

On the topic of quantum technology, President Chiang pointed out Purdue's leadership as part of several national centers dedicated to quantum research and innovation. He also commented on the robust collaboration happening between Indiana and Illinois in quantum, including the Quantum Corridor, which is being built to connect the region’s research hubs in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, West Lafayette, and Indianapolis. With this regional collaboration, the Corridor is growing as a global hub for quantum computing.

Shifting focus to the third pillar of the Competitiveness Conversation—advanced biology—Dr. Chiang noted Purdue's contributions to drug discovery and green chemistry, as well as its close collaborations with industry. As an example, Eli Lilly, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies globally and a notable Purdue partner, has committed $9 billion to develop a manufacturing facility near Lebanon, IN, which will serve as both a production site and a training center in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue. This investment is designed to enhance drug production capabilities and create a pipeline of skilled workers in the pharmaceutical sector, yet another example of the interconnectedness of innovation and workforce development.

Dr. Chiang also boasted about the economic development happening in the Indiana-Illinois Corridor driven by innovation. The area stretching from Indianapolis to Chicago is one of the top ten regions in the United States for economic vibrancy based on innovation according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the leaders and institutions in this corridor, and it is a sign of the region's potential for continued growth and innovation.

Given the region’s growth, and the innovations happening on Purdue’s campus, it is not surprising the university has achieved record application numbers, with selectivity at an all-time high for both undergraduate and graduate programs. Total enrollment across the Purdue system has surpassed 110,000 students, and the institution's commitment to academic excellence has never been greater.

Dr. Chiang concluded with a note of gratitude to the various partners and collaborators—including government entities, foundations, and industry—for their support in advancing the mission of the Indiana-Illinois Innovation Corridor. The success of this region is built on the collective efforts of all stakeholders and their collaborative spirit and commitment to innovation, which defines this dynamic ecosystem.

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