Heartland BioWorks

Lead Agency: Applied Research Institute  

State Served: Indiana  

Applicant-Defined Region: Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson MSA  

Core Technology Area: Biomanufacturing  

Contact: Michelle Dennis ([email protected])

Media Contact: Caleb Bonham ([email protected])

Organizational Link: https://www.heartlandbioworks.com/home

Heartland BioWorks, led by the Applied Research Institute, aims to transform Central Indiana into a global leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing by increasing the region’s capacity to make and deploy life-saving medicines. Leveraging the region’s research institutions, venture ecosystem, logistics infrastructure, and established pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing presence, this Tech Hub will catalyze regional biotech innovation.

Heartland BioWorks seeks to strengthen the nation’s biotechnology supply chain and facilitate the rapid discovery, development, commercialization, and deployment of next generation bioproducts in human, animal, and plant biosciences.

EDA awarded this Tech Hub grant funding of approximately $51 million to:

• Establish a formal biotech entrepreneurship network to provide navigation resources, mentorship, and greater access to facilities and venture capital funding to help innovators successfully scale and launch their bioproducts in the region;
• Construct BioWorks HQ, a training and demonstration facility for trainees to enter the workforce and for current employees to upskill; and

Develop training pathways, leveraging curricula from Indiana’s higher education institutions and other globally recognized training programs to prepare participants for high-quality jobs in biomanufacturing operator and lab technician roles.