AGP Executive Report

Autism Research: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million NIH study training nearly 200 primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to improve access for children in rural and underserved communities. Data Center Debate: At least 50 Indiana counties have restricted or paused data center development, citing concerns about power, water, land and local infrastructure as AI drives demand. Nuclear Technology: The Navy selected Radiant Industries to deploy a prototype microreactor at Crane, bringing advanced nuclear research to a key Indiana defense site. STEM Education: Fort Wayne Community Schools opened two hands-on innovation studios with Purdue and Cummins, giving students access to drones, 3D printers and robotics; a new virtual reality series also lets local children explore STEM careers. Tech Workforce: Nearly $19 million in federal grants will expand Indiana training and apprenticeships, including support for advanced manufacturing and information technology.

Health Research: IU School of Medicine researchers received a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to test ways to train primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to reduce long waits for children in rural and underserved communities. Energy & AI Infrastructure: AEP, Amazon and X-energy are exploring a proposed 960-megawatt nuclear plant in Indiana to help meet rising power demand. Semiconductors: Purdue and GlobalFoundries expanded their partnership with a master research agreement. Space Research: A Purdue researcher is leading a team advising the nation on future lunar exploration; another Purdue professor helped identify four potential moon landing sites. AgTech: Purdue’s four-year solar-and-crops study found corn yields fell an average of 7.7% even in the most shaded plots, offering promise for combining farming and solar power. Tech Workforce: A Fort Wayne nonprofit is helping 200 students build robotics and engineering skills.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers won a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to train nearly 200 primary-care clinicians in Indiana and two other states to diagnose autism, aiming to ease long waits and improve access in underserved communities. Data Center Rules: More than 50 Indiana counties now restrict data centers. Tippecanoe County advanced proposed zoning standards, while Lake County officials tabled an amendment, as communities weigh development’s demands on power and water. Nuclear Technology: The Navy selected Radiant Industries to deploy a prototype microreactor at Crane. Separately, Amazon, AEP and X-energy are exploring a proposed 960-megawatt nuclear plant in Indiana. Research and Industry: Purdue and chipmaker GlobalFoundries expanded their research partnership; IU committed $15 million to a new neuro-oncology research center. Northern Indiana Anodize also celebrated a $4 million Allen County expansion, expected to boost capacity by up to 50% and add more than 30 jobs. Skills Pipeline: Indiana received nearly $19 million in federal grants for workforce training and apprenticeships, including programs in advanced manufacturing and information technology.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers won a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to train primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism. The study will involve nearly 200 clinicians and aims to improve access for children in rural and underserved communities. Purdue Research: Purdue named two Showalter Faculty Scholars and funded 12 early-career researchers working on health challenges. Separately, a Purdue professor is helping identify lunar sites for future astronaut missions. Nuclear Energy: AEP, X-energy and Amazon are exploring a 960-megawatt nuclear project at a retired Indiana coal site, as the state considers a separate large-scale nuclear proposal. Data center growth is adding pressure to decisions about Indiana’s future power supply. Battery Innovation: Indiana’s Battery Innovation Center tested lithium-free graphene cells that completed 1,000 six-minute charging cycles without degradation, according to the company. The cells are now being sent to customers for evaluation. Farm Technology: A five-herbicide-tolerant soybean trait is in development, with commercial availability projected for 2028.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million NIH study training nearly 200 primary care clinicians in Indiana and two other states to diagnose autism, aiming to reduce families’ waits for specialists. Nuclear Power: The Navy selected Radiant Industries to build a prototype microreactor for Naval Support Activity Crane, intended to provide reliable, independent power for critical missions. Lunar Research: A Purdue engineering professor helped a National Academies team identify four priority sites for future crewed moon missions, including the lunar far side and Aristarchus Plateau. Data Center Pushback: At least 50 Indiana counties now have moratoriums, zoning rules or bans on data center development, amid concerns about the facilities’ electricity and water use. AI and Health: Researchers including an Indiana University scholar say harms from chatbots’ medical advice can go unreported and undetected, and call for safeguards and transparency. School Cybersecurity: Indiana K-12 schools reported 69 cyber incidents in 2025, up from 27 in 2024; 40 more had been reported by May 2026.

Pediatric Health: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million NIH study to train primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to expand access for families facing specialist shortages, including in rural Indiana. Nearly 200 clinicians across three states will take part. Nuclear Energy: Amazon and AEP are exploring a 960-megawatt small modular reactor project in Indiana, with a feasibility study underway for Sullivan County. Purdue has also named its first chief nuclear officer to guide research and workforce development. Defense Technology: Kratos is expanding its Odon campus with two facilities, including a radar integration complex, adding to Indiana’s growing defense industry. Advanced Manufacturing: Electro-Spec, which operates a specialty-plating facility in Franklin, has been acquired to launch a new industrial finishing platform serving defense, medical, nuclear and other sectors.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million NIH study training nearly 200 primary-care clinicians, including in Indiana, to diagnose autism and help ease specialist shortages, especially in rural communities. Nuclear Energy: Indiana signed an agreement with AtkinsRéalis to work toward adding 6 gigawatts of nuclear power, with no timeline set. Separately, Amazon and AEP are exploring a 960-megawatt small-reactor project in the state. Purdue has also named its first chief nuclear officer to lead research and workforce efforts. Indiana Biotech: Indianapolis-based Telix reported a 19% year-over-year revenue increase and began commercial doses of its newly FDA-approved brain-tumor imaging agent. Precision Agriculture: Purdue students are using field data from 50 to 60 corn trials on a 1,600-acre research site to study crop management and help farmers make planting and treatment decisions.

AI-Driven Medicine: Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly is teaming with Hong Kong biotech METiS TechBio on AI-designed drug-delivery particles, with the deal potentially worth up to $1.1 billion in milestones. Nuclear Power: Amazon, AEP and X-energy are studying a proposed 960-megawatt small-reactor plant at a retired Indiana coal site to meet rising power demand; a go/no-go decision is expected by late 2029. Purdue has also named its first chief nuclear officer to lead research and workforce efforts. Research Computing: Indiana University is expanding GPU capacity to speed research, adding computing muscle for data-intensive work. Farm Innovation: A Kinnard Farms facility is now operating technology that converts manure into fertilizer, boosting domestic supplies of organic nitrogen. Clean Tech: Michigan City will host the Crossroads Clean Tech Conference Nov. 17–18, focused on energy, transportation and Indiana’s economic future.

Nuclear Energy: Amazon, AEP and X-energy are exploring a 960-megawatt small-reactor project in Indiana, potentially near a retired coal site south of Terre Haute. The proposal includes 12 reactors and could bring more than 1,000 construction jobs; it remains under study. Purdue has named nuclear engineering leader Seungjin Kim its first chief nuclear officer to guide research and workforce efforts, and joined a three-university nuclear training consortium. Research Computing: Indiana University is expanding GPU computing capacity to speed research. Health Tech: An FDA-approved AI tool developed by SimBioSys uses breast MRI data to estimate the risk of certain breast cancers returning, potentially helping care teams plan treatment before surgery. Advanced Manufacturing: Nucor plans a $105 million expansion of its Crawfordsville facility, adding automated production capacity for utility towers and structures and an expected 100 jobs.

Advanced Energy: X-energy and AEP will assess a proposed 960-megawatt small modular nuclear plant at the former Breed coal site in Sullivan County, with Amazon funding development work. Battery Research: Indiana’s Battery Innovation Center tested graphene-aluminum cells that the developer says maintained performance through 1,000 rapid-charge cycles; the results are an early-stage step, not proof of commercial readiness. Biotech: Indianapolis-based Telix is teaming with Ekalia to develop U.S. production of astatine-211, a scarce isotope being studied for targeted cancer treatment. Cancer Research: Eli Lilly plans to present new and updated oncology trial findings at a Madrid conference, including early data on an experimental ovarian-cancer drug. Purdue Research: A Purdue-linked expedition to Nikumaroro concluded that a suspected plane-shaped object was likely washed-up trees, not Amelia Earhart’s aircraft.

STEM Outreach: Hundreds of families explored robotics, health science and other hands-on activities at the Celebrate Science Indiana festival, connecting young Hoosiers with potential careers in STEM. AI and Manufacturing: Purdue and Google used a summit to advance work on physical AI, manufacturing and workforce readiness. Health Research: Purdue and Elanco broke ground on a new One Health Research Institute in Indianapolis, focused on the links among human, animal and environmental health. Tech Infrastructure: NiSource signed a 20-year power deal with Microsoft for an Indiana campus, underscoring the growing energy needs of large technology projects. Nuclear Energy: Purdue and Indiana will host a global nuclear energy economic summit in Indianapolis.

AI and Energy: NiSource signed a 20-year power deal with Microsoft for its Indiana campus, as data center projects spur debate over electricity costs and local incentives. Health Research: Purdue and Elanco broke ground on an Indianapolis One Health Research Institute, while Indiana’s MED Institute joined an ARPA-H-backed effort to advance wearable biosensing. Accessible Computing: Indiana students are helping make coding more accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired. Clinical Research: IU physician Raj Vuppalanchi presented trial analysis on investigational drug saroglitazar, comparing results for U.S. and international participants.

AI Infrastructure: NiSource signed a 20-year power deal with Microsoft for its Indiana campus, as demand from data centers puts electricity supply in sharper focus. Local Tech Policy: Bloomington’s City Council voted to ban Flock and other automated license-plate reader technology. Defense Engineering: Kratos broke ground in Odon on new radar and hypersonics testing facilities. Health Research: MED Institute joined an ARPA-H-funded consortium advancing wearable biosensing. Science: Researchers removing invasive stiltgrass at eight Indiana forest sites found native plant diversity rose 24%; herbicide-treated plots also had 123% greater tree-seedling density than controls. AI Education: IU launched a faculty effort to define what students need to learn to thrive with AI.

AI in Health Care: CMS says it will soon publish results from an Indiana Medicaid fraud-detection pilot run with Oracle. The AI system looks for suspicious billing before payment; similar pilots are underway in five more states. Data Center Growth: Lebanon is considering up to $1,000 in city tax relief for homeowners using a proposed $7.5 million payment tied to Meta’s planned LEAP campus. NiSource also signed a 20-year power deal with Microsoft for an Indiana campus. Advanced Manufacturing: A Purdue-Google summit explored physical AI, manufacturing and workforce readiness. In Odon, Kratos has broken ground on radar and hypersonics testing facilities. STEM Access: A weekend mentoring program from 100 Black Men of Indianapolis offers boys in grades 5–9 hands-on learning in AI, IT and other STEM fields.

AI in Medicaid: CMS is preparing to release results from an Indiana pilot with Oracle that uses AI to flag suspicious Medicaid billing before payment. The agency says it is testing similar systems with five other states. Semiconductors: SK hynix has broken ground on a $4 billion high-bandwidth-memory packaging plant in Indiana as it expands U.S. chip operations. Purdue Innovation: A Purdue-Google summit focused on physical AI, manufacturing and workforce readiness; Purdue and Elanco also broke ground on a One Health Research Institute in Indianapolis. Biomedical Research: IU scientists have developed compounds showing early promise in reducing Alzheimer’s-linked brain plaques.

Rural Connectivity: Paulding Putnam is expanding its fiber build into Allen County, Indiana, and added a senior technology and network operations leader as the cooperative grows its service. AI & Manufacturing: Purdue and Google held a summit on physical AI, manufacturing and workforce readiness, spotlighting how emerging technologies could reshape Indiana industry. Defense Technology: Gov. Braun marked the start of a Kratos Defense expansion in Daviess County, extending the state’s role in defense manufacturing. Life Sciences: Purdue and Elanco broke ground on an Indianapolis One Health Research Institute, bringing research on human, animal and environmental health under one roof. Broadband Access: Indiana may put remaining rural broadband funds to work, creating another chance to extend internet service to underserved areas.