The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is the lead convener in a regional initiative to drive transformational change in Southwest Indiana. This initiative is centered on the recent construction of a segment of Interstate 69 and aims to foster the establishment of an Innovation Corridor from Evansville to Crane in Southwest Indiana. The vision is to develop a culture and environment that uses innovation to transform and sustain the dynamism of the regional economy. A consortium of over 200 stakeholders has been engaged in developing strategies to increase the region’s innovation index by 20% by 2025.

1. Leading Regional Transformation Change Through Innovation

3. Thought Leadership Capital
Initiatives
Regional
Business and
Stakeholders
LEDO/REDO Civil
I-69 Executive Committee
I & E
Networks
Civic
Collaborations
Quality
Connected
Places
I-69 Innovation Corridor
Branding &
Marketing
Products, Projects
And Processes
Brain Power
• STRIVE Network
• Higher Ed. Pipeline
• Events
• Programs
• Youth Think Tank
• Business and
Professional
Exchange
• TCA
• Tech on Tap
• Co-working
Space
• Virtual
Accelerator
Ecosystem
• Online
Community
• Kauffman
Ventures
• Elevate
Ventures
• Crane
• BridgeLink
• Hoosier Voices
• MidState
Connector
• IMCP
• Community
Exchanges
• Council of
Elected Officials
• LEDO
Roundtable
• Interchange
Inventory
• Shovel Ready
• Site
Development
• Physical Rural
Innovation
Center
• Branding Focus
Groups
• Website
Development
• “Telling our
Story”
• “We Innovate
Here” Campaign
• Programs &
Curricula
• Partnerships
• Marketing

4. Drivers of Regional Economic Success
INDUSTRY CLUSTERS
REGIONAL
SPECIALIZATION
OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
REGIONAL
ADAPTIVE CAPACITY
INNOVATION
ECONOMIC DYNAMISM &
QUALITY OF LIFE
HUBS
CATALYSTS OF
CHANGE
Social & Cultural Trends
Technology
Random Events
Globalization

5. Population, Employment, and Personal Income Trends:
Evansville MSA Compared to the U.S. 1970-2011
From 1970 to 2011,
population in the
Evansville MSA grew by
20 % compared to 53 %
for the United States.
•
From 1970 to 2011,
employment in the
Evansville MSA grew by
56 % compared to 93 %
for the United States.
From 1970 to 2011,
personal income in the
Evansville MSA grew by
117 % compared to 168
% for the United States.
www.headwaterseconomics.org
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1970
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Index: 1970=100
Population, Evansville MSA - agg Compared to United States
Recession Evansville MSA - agg United States
250
200
150
100
50
0
1970
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Index: 1970=100
Employment, Evansville MSA - agg Compared to United States
Recession Evansville MSA - agg United States
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1970
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Index: 1970=100
Personal Income, Evansville MSA - agg Compared to United States
Recession Evansville MSA - agg United States

6. The Case for Transformational Change
• Over the past three decades the I-69 Corridor Region has
experienced below average growth in key indicators of economic
success (employment, population, and personal income)
• The rapid pace of change makes catching up a difficult proposition if
the region continues on its existing path
• Regions that have outperformed the national economy tend to be
characterized by higher levels of innovative capacity
• I-69 presents a tremendous opportunity to focus on strengthening
the region’s innovative capacity

7. Human Capital: 30%
Innovation Index Components
Economic Dynamics: 30%
Productivity and Employment: 30% Economic Well-Being: 10%

8. Innovation Index (U.S. = 100)
I-69 Corridor Region 86.3
Boise, ID 110.5
Indianapolis, IN 97.1
Kansas City, MO-KS 95.5
Knoxville, TN 91.3
Portland, OR 112.8
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 125.1

10. “I don’t know what I don’t know.”
“What questions should I ask?
“I don’t have time to go to college”
“Where do I go to find an investor?”
“How do I get an investor to invest?”
“How do I get this product made?”
“Will this work?”
“Should I patent this?”
“My idea is worth millions.”

11. Networking Events & Spaces
Prototyping
Technical Mentors
Feedback
Education
Leaders & Feeders

12. Co-Working Space
Pitch Practice
New, Tech, and Growth Venture
Tech on Tap
Javas Jumpstart
Shared Contacts

13. Makerspace
Virtual Accelerator
Technology Commercialization Academy
Online Community
Access to
Legacy Companies

14. Our vision is that we will be an education village environment that
fosters a knowledge based, innovation economy.
Strategy 1: A progressive education system that develops
individuals that are flexible, adaptable, willing to take risks,
and easily mobilized;
Strategy 2: Developing world-class educators through
innovative teacher education degree programs and
professional development programs and/or centers;
Strategy 3: An innovative curriculum with full integration of
students, families, educational systems, regional institutions,
organizations, and business.

15. Brainpower Task Force
Partnerships Marketing
Programs
&
Curricula
Team Leader:
Michael Thissen
Team Leaders:
Chris Kinnett
Daniela Vidal
Team Leaders:
De Brown
Makenzie Coulter
Proposed Ideas
and Activities
Approvals for Marketing
Evaluation / Assessment

17. "The Brainpower long term goal is to advance our next generation regional workforce by
encouraging lifelong learning and achieving 60% attainment in post-secondary degrees & high
quality credentials by the year 2025."

21. Question and Answer