West Lafayette, IN - September 30, 2009
A key development in the life sciences arena was announced today as part of a new agricultural collaboration involving Dow AgroSciences, Purdue and the state of Indiana. Dow AgroSciences will become a key tenant at the Purdue Research Park, occupying 15,000 square feet of research and office space in the newly built Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center. In addition, Dow AgroSciences will be the exclusive tenant of a 6,000-square-foot greenhouse complex to be constructed on the south side of the Ross Enterprise Center at 3495 Kent Ave. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will support the Purdue Research Foundation in the construction of a $2.2 million greenhouse research center with a grant to assist in development costs.
Up to 30 scientists will be working in the Purdue Research Park as part of this collaboration over the next three years, with up to an additional 18 contract research workers to be hired from the surrounding community. Researchers from Dow AgroSciences will have access to the Purdue College of Agriculture's 23 research facilities, including the Agronomy Center for Research and Education, Genomics Core Facility and Life Sciences Microscopy Facility.
The project is an important step in Dow AgroSciences’ global technology development plans, and activity at Purdue Research Park will focus on biotechnology innovation and discovery.
"The power of collaboration with Purdue is immense, and the many elements of this project will bring great advancement to our biotechnology efforts. We are very grateful to the IEDC for being a foundational player in what is a wise investment for the State of Indiana as it focuses on advancing life sciences,” said Antonio Galindez, president and CEO of Dow AgroSciences. "Purdue Research Park is the perfect setting to unleash the creativity of our scientists and advance science and technology.”
"As a land-grant university, Purdue has a long, rich history in agricultural and life sciences research with innovative faculty and strong outreach programs through our Extension offices and other projects," said Purdue President France A. Córdova. "The Dow AgroSciences project is a perfect example of how our collaborations with industry and the state can generate new research that will ensure Indiana maintains its leadership in agricultural sciences."
"We are happy to welcome Dow AgroSciences as one of the nearly 170 companies in the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation, which manages the Purdue Research Park. "With its strong credentials and international reputation in agricultural innovation, Dow AgroSciences will add much to the Purdue Research Park network."
Jay Akridge, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, points out the on-going educational benefit of this project. "Indiana is one of the nation's leaders in crop production," he said. "The partnership also will create new potential research collaborations between Dow and Purdue scientists and provide students with learning and networking opportunities where they can enrich their education by working with an international company."
"A primary strategy of the state’s economic development effort is to promote the growth and commercialization of key research developments within our state and this exciting partnership clearly meets that objective,” said Mitch Roob, Indiana Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the IEDC. "Bringing together the agriculture and biotechnology strengths of both Dow AgroSciences and Purdue makes perfect sense and we are happy to support their future success.”
About IEDC
Created by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Daniels. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. For more information about IEDC, visit http://www.iedc.in.gov
About Dow AgroSciences LLC
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, is a top-tier agricultural company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. Dow AgroSciences provides innovative technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology to serve the world's growing population. Global annual sales for Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, are $4.5 billion.
About Purdue Research Park
The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (http://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 160 companies. About 100 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. The park is owned and managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, the foundation has established technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.
About Dow
For Editorial Information:
Kenda Resler-Friend
Dow AgroSciences LLC
(317) 337-4743
Blair West
Indiana Economic Development Corp.
(317) 232-8873
bwest@iedc.IN.gov
Cynthia Sequin
Purdue Research Foundation
(765) 588-3340
casequin@prf.org
