AGP Executive Report

Semiconductor Boom: SK hynix is moving fast on Indiana AI hardware, with multiple reports around a $4B+ memory and HBM packaging push in West Lafayette and broader plans to start production in 2029—another sign Indiana is locking in a bigger role in the AI supply chain. Life Sciences Investment: RayzeBio will build a $173M radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Whitestown, adding up to 100 jobs by 2029 and expanding Indiana’s theranostics and RPT capacity. Agriculture Tech & Risk: Purdue researchers warn waterhemp resistance is spreading across Indiana, with group 15 herbicides, bleaching herbicides, and 2,4-D losing effectiveness—plus a separate Purdue Extension update flags red crown rot risk in soybean fields and urges growers to scout and submit samples. Public Safety Tech Debate: Fort Wayne expects to remove Flock license plate reader cameras after city council action and mayoral steps to disable the system while officials sort out grant and privacy concerns. Health & Climate Watch: A report highlights warming waters increasing the risk area for brain-eating amoeba infections, underscoring how climate shifts can change where outbreaks show up.

Semiconductor Push in Indiana: SK hynix broke ground at Purdue for a $4B advanced packaging facility to produce next-gen AI memory. The cleanroom targets October 2028, with volume output of HBM4E starting in 2029 (and CEO Kwak Noh-jung says the AI memory shortage could last through 2030). Tech + Water Tension: After flooding, Indiana water officials and scientists met to discuss how data centers could affect waterways; Indianapolis approved three data centers but paused new ones through 2027 while studying water use. AI Memory Supply Chain: Multiple reports frame Indiana as the “back-end” HBM hub—Korea-made wafers shipped to Indiana for packaging, testing, and R&D. Surveillance Scrutiny: Indiana lawmakers face renewed privacy pressure as national coverage highlights misuse of Flock license plate readers elsewhere, while Indiana debates guardrails for ALPR use. Health Tech: The FDA cleared a new Roche/Lilly Alzheimer’s blood test (pTau217) for people 55+ with cognitive decline symptoms, aimed at helping clinicians rule in or rule out amyloid pathology. Workplace Insight: A Glassdoor review analysis finds written employee comments can add meaning beyond rating categories, suggesting “employee voice” reveals what scores miss.

Semiconductor Boom in West Lafayette: SK hynix held a groundbreaking for a $4B advanced packaging and HBM production hub at Purdue Research Park, targeting a cleanroom opening in late 2028 and mass production in 2029, with about 1,000 workers during operations. Local Tech Governance: Marion County appointed Kate Kotan as permanent CIO, tasking her with modernizing aging systems and managing growing data and AI needs. Public Data Center Backlash: Counties in southwest Indiana are still wrestling with data center ordinances after large public turnouts, with rules not yet finalized. Health & Food Safety: The FDA said the cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce has expanded to 20 states, with Indiana among those reporting cases. Indoor Air Risk: Purdue researchers warn that scented cleaners can react with indoor air to form ultrafine particles, advising fragrance-free products and better ventilation. Digital Equity: NTIA approved all final BEAD broadband proposals, aiming to close the digital divide. Surveillance Policy Fight: Nevada lawmakers moved toward a bill to require policies, training, and audits for automated license plate reader systems like Flock. Meta Settlement: Indiana will receive about $296M from Meta’s multistate child-safety settlement, paid in 10 installments.

Semiconductors & AI Infrastructure: SK hynix broke ground in West Lafayette on a $3.87B advanced packaging and HBM production base, with major state and utility support and CHIPS Act backing—aimed at strengthening U.S. AI chip supply. Biotech: MBX Biosciences dosed the first patient in its pivotal Phase 3 oPTimize trial of once-weekly canvuparatide for chronic hypoparathyroidism, building on earlier Phase 2 results. Energy & Grid Reliability: Indiana utility regulators and analysts are warning that recent political shifts could raise risk and affect profit expectations as the state moves toward performance-based ratemaking. Privacy & Surveillance Tech: A Kentucky officer was arrested for allegedly using Flock Safety license-plate cameras over 2,000 times to track an ex, adding to scrutiny of police use of automated surveillance. Battery Supply Chains: Nano One says its LFP cathode approach and “one-pot” process can help meet demand outside China, aligning with U.S. and EU battery localization policies. Education & Workforce: Indiana public colleges are keeping tuition and mandatory fees flat for in-state undergrads for a second year, while Meta’s new workforce training push highlights private-sector models for tech-era skills. Local Tech in Schools: Chell Instruments donated pressure-scanner tech to Purdue Formula SAE to support car development and validation.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17B and add child-safety changes to Facebook/Instagram after a trial over claims of teen social media addiction, with states like Nevada and Tennessee set to receive major funding. Indiana Research & Oversight: IU’s summer recap includes fallout from a USDA shutdown of a professor’s lab tied to prior federal scrutiny, underscoring how compliance and security reviews can stall Indiana research. Public Tech Under Scrutiny: A Kentucky officer was arrested for allegedly using Flock license-plate cameras over 2,000 times to track an ex, adding to the growing debate over surveillance tech misuse. Energy & Infrastructure Pressure: Gary’s prolonged blackout after a derecho kept attention on grid reliability and the role of data centers during outages, while researchers expect a surge in 2027 energy siting bills. Local Data Center Rules: Kokomo advanced a first reading of new data center standards, as communities push back on growth and power demands. Healthcare Tech in Indiana: VA leaders discussed a digital health rollout, including a new electronic health record system scheduled to go live in the Black Hills region in 2027. STEM Education Push: The Colts and Purdue launched the “Colts STEAM Combine” for K-12 students at Lucas Oil Stadium. Policy Watch: Indiana lawmakers and voters also face judge retention questions and a new push to expand federal radiation exposure compensation to Rocky Flats.

Indiana Public Records: Indiana’s public access watchdog is facing deeper structural problems—backlog, reduced independence, and staffing cuts—raising fresh calls for statutory reforms so citizens get records faster. Data Centers in Southern Indiana: Jeffersonville’s Meta data center is nearing completion even as local governments elsewhere tighten rules; the piece highlights how zoning authority and moratoriums can shape what actually gets built. Biotech & Manufacturing: 4basebio and Genezen expand a collaboration to streamline access to synthetic, cell-free DNA for viral vector gene therapy programs, aiming to speed development and reduce material costs. Healthcare Research: A large UK Biobank study links alcohol type to different mortality risks at low-to-moderate levels, with wine showing lower risk while beer/cider/spirits trend higher. STEM Education in Indiana: Vincennes University’s Innovative Teaching Summit spotlights AI in classrooms, Science of Reading, blended learning, and educator well-being. Public Health & Food Safety: Coverage of the cyclospora outbreak underscores how hard it is to trace sources and why lab testing and coordination matter. Tech/Industry: CTS expands current sensing solutions through authorized distribution partners, targeting growth markets like data centers, telecom, and power management. Policy & Elections: Multiple states plan legal challenges to mail-in ballot restrictions, arguing voter processes remain stable while courts sort out the rules.

Indiana Tech & Policy: Indiana Senate Republicans are offering paid internships for the 2027 session, including roles in communications, information technology, legal, legislative, and policy offices—$900 biweekly plus academic credit and professional development. Public Health: Pennsylvania reported two measles deaths tied to an outbreak centered in Lancaster, Chester and York counties; the state has nearly 400 cases, and Indiana is listed among nearby areas with confirmed cases. Transportation Tech: Oklahoma is deploying AI-enabled weigh-in-motion and screening tech on I-35 so commercial trucks can be evaluated for weight and safety while still moving, with Indiana cited as a similar adopter. Healthcare Tech: The FDA cleared Roche’s Elecsys pTau217 blood test for Alzheimer’s, aiming to help rule in or rule out amyloid pathology without a brain scan first. Power & Resilience: NIPSCO filed rate increases with Indiana regulators after the Aug. 11 storms, as debate continues over utility preparedness and recovery. Energy/Engineering: Rose-Hulman students won a top student paper award at Georgia Tech’s protective relaying conference for a relay event analysis software tool built with AES Indiana.

Indiana Power Crisis: Gov. Mike Braun is calling for an investigation into NIPSCO after long outages left thousands in Gary and nearby communities without electricity for nearly two weeks following an Aug. 11 derecho, with officials and consumer advocates saying the response was too slow and left residents without basic services. AI for Business Calls: CCS launched a Connected AI Receptionist that answers calls, handles common questions, routes callers, and schedules appointments around the clock—aimed at reducing staffing pressure for small and midsize companies. Health Tech & Alzheimer’s: The FDA cleared Roche’s Elecsys pTau217 blood test for patients 55+ with cognitive decline, using a single biomarker to help identify or rule out amyloid pathology on existing lab platforms. Medical Safety Watch: A large study links tadalafil (Cialis) to higher glaucoma risk, while Indiana’s Alzheimer’s education law now pushes dementia info through broader public health campaigns. Privacy & Surveillance: Indiana lawmakers are revisiting automated license plate readers as privacy and misuse concerns grow, with potential statewide guardrails coming in the next legislative session. Indiana Workforce Snapshot: Fort Wayne’s metro unemployment rate fell to 3.3% in July, down from 3.8% a year earlier. STEM/Industry Training: ARPM will run a five-day seals design and manufacturing training program in Noblesville in late October.

Indiana VA Tech: Indiana’s VA medical centers are transitioning to a new electronic health record system, aiming to improve veterans’ care and interoperability across facilities. Public Health Risk: A rare “brain-eating amoeba” (Naegleria fowleri) has killed an 8-year-old in Louisiana after likely exposure while swimming in warm freshwater, underscoring how fast these infections can turn deadly. Workforce & Policy: Advocates are pushing for federal self-driving car rules under the SELF DRIVE Act, with Indiana Rep. Erin Houchin calling for clearer safety standards and more domestic manufacturing. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Indiana’s IEDA board approved assistance for manufacturers and strategic infrastructure projects, including support tied to advanced manufacturing and quality-of-life efforts. STEM in Schools: A Kentucky STEM and Robotics Center expansion highlights how school upgrades can grow hands-on computing and engineering opportunities. Aviation Outreach: The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds return to Indiana’s Grissom Air Reserve Base for a free air and space expo with a STEM hangar and family activities. Labor Organizing: Autism therapy workers are increasingly unionizing amid reports of low pay, unstable schedules, and pressure on care quality. Indiana Economy: Fort Wayne’s metro unemployment rate fell to 3.3% in July, signaling a steady labor market heading into fall.

Data Center Policy Clash: Indianapolis is pausing new data centers through 2027 as backlash grows, while Kokomo is considering zoning changes to allow data centers on industrial land—showing how local rules are becoming the real battleground for Indiana’s tech buildout. Privacy & Surveillance Tech: Indiana lawmakers are revisiting license plate cameras amid rising privacy worries, after reports of misuse and new community pushback—raising the stakes for “guardrails” on automated monitoring. Cybersecurity & Compliance for Indiana Businesses: Braden Business Systems expanded its virtual CISO and compliance advisory services, aiming to give mid-market firms a named security owner and faster, framework-mapped roadmaps. AI in Healthcare: Henry Ford Health is using AI-assisted adaptive radiation therapy to adjust cancer treatment plans based on daily imaging—an example of precision tech moving into routine care. Manufacturing Startup Push: ACMI launched the $3m Horizon Manufacturing Cup at IU Bloomington to fund and connect hardware and materials startups with prototyping and scaling resources. Hoosier Consumer Tech Stress: An Indiana man reports 90 spam calls a day tied to Medicare marketing, highlighting how “digital” scams keep hitting everyday residents.

AI Infrastructure in Indiana & Beyond: A new Synergy Research Group snapshot says the U.S. now hosts 15 of the world’s 20 biggest hyperscale AI data center markets, with Northern Virginia still dominating and Texas showing standout growth—an indicator that Indiana’s own data-center debate is part of a much bigger power-and-incentives race. Local Tech Education: Indiana Tech will host the Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamp for underserved high school students on three Saturdays starting Oct. 31, with meals, transportation help, and no-cost access to real-world AI use cases. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Indiana’s Flock camera controversy keeps spreading, with reports of vandalism and local officials facing threats tied to data center and surveillance tech fights. Flood Recovery Support: Indiana is pushing Northwest Indiana storm victims to use 211/IN211.org for documentation and potential emergency grants up to $5,000 as recovery continues. STEM & Research: Scientists are studying how microplastics move through Great Lakes-linked ecosystems, including work tracking what fish ingest and how plastics spread. Sports Tech/Community: Indiana Fever coverage and local events like the INAD Warriors gala show how tech-minded communities keep building momentum—on and off the court.

Indiana Tech Watch—Junction 36: Indiana Tech says it will start work in about 30 days on “Junction 36” at Fort Wayne’s Electric Works, a nearly $18M advanced manufacturing innovation center built from the former GE Building 36, aiming to support hardtech training, business help, and a public workshop program. Local Tech & Public Safety: Evansville-area officials report vandalism and theft hitting Flock Safety cameras, with at least six destroyed or disabled since late June, while investigations continue. AI Data Center Backlash: Across the country, local officials say they’ve received death threats tied to data center projects, with some towns restricting builds and councils shuttering public comment. Severe Weather & Grid Resilience: A 99 mph derecho left Gary in the dark for nearly two weeks, with researchers pointing to straight-line winds, rain-saturated soil, and overhead power-line vulnerability. Health & Environment: Great Lakes scientists are running microplastics experiments in lakes to track how plastics move, sink, and enter fish—pushing governments toward stronger action. Cybersecurity: The FBI warns of nationwide cyberattacks targeting water systems, while Indiana water utilities say they’re prepared.

Advanced Manufacturing in Fort Wayne: Indiana Tech says it’s about to start construction on the nearly $18M “Junction 36” advanced manufacturing innovation center at Electric Works, after buying Building 36 in 2025; the project is pitched as hardtech training plus business support and a public workshop program. Public Safety Tech Under Fire (Evansville): Vandals have damaged or stolen six Flock Safety cameras in the Evansville area since June, with the sheriff’s office still lacking suspects; local advocates say their legal fight continues. Cybersecurity & Privacy Watch (IMPD): Indianapolis police say an officer is under criminal investigation for misusing automated license plate readers for “personal reasons,” raising new questions about ALPR oversight. Food Safety: CDC reports a multi-state alfalfa sprout outbreak tied to E. coli and Salmonella, with cases including Indiana. Infrastructure & Resilience: Gary and northwest Indiana residents are still dealing with power outages after severe storms, with FEMA emergency steps underway. Trade & Tech-Adjacent Policy: U.S.-Canada talks collapse and a 50% tariff on Canadian goods begins, with Indiana among states exposed to the fallout.

Cybersecurity for Hoosier water: The FBI says hackers are targeting water systems nationwide, and Indiana utilities are preparing—even though no specific threats have been reported locally. Citizens Energy says its critical controls are separated from business networks, but the alert highlights risks like remote controller tampering that could cause flooding or loss of water pressure. Climate & flooding research: New findings point to a shift toward larger, more widespread extreme-rain events in the eastern U.S., raising the odds of flash flooding that can overwhelm multiple communities at once—an issue hitting Indiana as storms flood areas including around Indianapolis. Indiana climate planning: A statewide climate impacts assessment workshop shared hyper-local projections for places like St. Joseph County, including hotter days and heavier spring rainfall, with the next report expected in 2028. STEM education pathways: States are expanding advanced math course placement, with Tennessee’s new Algebra I pathway law following similar moves in Indiana and others—framed as a gateway for AI and high-level careers. Biotech/healthcare in Indiana: VA Northern Indiana is rolling out a modernized Federal EHR system for nearly 103,000 veterans, aiming for a single lifelong record across VA facilities. Local tech & infrastructure policy: Fort Wayne councilman Geoff Paddock is pushing IDEM for stricter wetlands review tied to Google’s data center expansion, citing requests to fill isolated wetlands.

Data Centers & Local Control: Indianapolis approved a temporary moratorium on new data centers through 2027, reflecting mounting public backlash over impacts and planning. Wetlands & Permitting: Fort Wayne councilman Geoff Paddock asked Indiana’s IDEM for the strictest review standards for Google’s requested wetlands fills as the company expands its southeast campus. Biotech Watch: Scholar Rock shares rose after it removed a Novo Nordisk-owned Catalent Indiana manufacturing site from an FDA biologics filing for apitegromab, keeping a Sept. 30 decision target alive. Public Health Tech: VA medical centers in Fort Wayne, Marion, and Indianapolis are transitioning to a new Federal Electronic Health Record system, with temporary pauses for scheduling and prescription refills. STEM & Research Infrastructure: Purdue’s High-Speed Propulsion Lab earned ISO 9001 quality management certification, boosting its ability to partner with defense and aerospace firms. Ag & Innovation: Keystone Cooperative joined a One Health venture studio to back startups linking animal, plant, and human health. Health Risk Study: A Nature early paper reports higher Parkinson’s risk for people living near dry cleaners, tied to dry-cleaning chemicals.

Housing & Local Policy: Washington County’s Next Generation Housing program got a new funding structure recommendation and a pilot plan for a $25,000 incentive, as rising construction costs keep outpacing local wage growth and the county targets 1,000 owner-occupied homes by 2032. Cancer Care Oversight: A new report says some cancer drugs may be prescribed at higher doses than patients need, arguing the extra dose can mean more toxicity without added benefit—raising questions about how FDA labels translate into real-world dosing. Cybersecurity & AI Fraud: ZDNET highlights how AI deepfakes can defeat “face and voice” checks, pointing to a real case where cloned executives helped trigger $25M in wire transfers. Indiana Health Tech: IU Health is launching a Theranostics Center of Excellence with a $40M total commitment to pair advanced imaging with targeted, image-guided therapies. Semiconductors in Indiana: West Lafayette’s SK hynix deal projections rose to $500M over three decades, with the city negotiating a higher return amid new property-tax pressures. Digital IDs: Apple Wallet mobile driver’s licenses are expanding, with Indiana still exploring options while other states roll out incrementally. Classroom Tech Rules: Indiana’s cellphone ban is pushing some teachers toward more hands-on learning while keeping Chromebooks for online coursework. Data Centers & Water/Traffic: Google held an open house in Fort Wayne on its data center, including questions on water use, traffic, and local infrastructure support.