Summer 2007

Rose-Hulman Plays Role In Economic/Education Initiative

The Terre Haute Innovation Alliance, a new economic development and education initiative, is already beginning to pay dividends, local officials said this spring in announcing its creation.

The partnership between Rose- Hulman, the City of Terre Haute, the Terre Haute Economic Development Corporation and Indiana State University has started providing services to three companies in the process of developing or expanding their products while engaging students in hands-on projects and creating jobs for the local economy, said Steve Witt, president of the Terre Haute Economic Development Corp.

The creation of the Terre Haute Innovation Alliance was announced in April. The partnership was started with $500,000 in federal support garnered with assistance from Indiana Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar.

“This partnership will help new businesses create innovative technologies and prepare students for a new emerging economy. The Innovation Alliance will be instrumental in developing business growth in the life sciences, which is a high priority for the state of Indiana,” said Gerald Jakubowski, president of Rose- Hulman Institute of Technology.

The three companies involved — DesAcc, Infraware and Novus Technologies — are all technical in nature with two providing applications and services for the health care industry. All three companies will be utilizing space within ISU’s John T. Myers Technology Center for a portion of their operations. Two of the companies have and will continue to benefit from the services provided by project managers and students at Rose- Hulman Ventures.

In addition to physical space for their product development, the companies selected to participate also receive business development funding as well as services from students and faculty at the two higher education institutions. Providing careerrelated experiences for students and actively engaging them in the companies’ projects may help retain them in the community after they graduate, said Kevin Burke, mayor of Terre Haute.

“This will not only help us attract the students we need but will provide them with the opportunity and the potential of being able to stay and chase their dreams right here in Terre Haute,” said Burke.