The Council on Competitiveness is hosting its latest “Competitiveness Conversation” Sept. 9th at Purdue University, highlighting how the Midwest is leading the world in three critical technologies: semiconductors, quantum science, and advanced bioscience. The event brings together leaders from business, academia, government, and national labs to explore ways to expand U.S. innovation capacity and global competitiveness.

Hosted by the Honorable Deborah Wince-Smith, President & CEO of the Council; Dr. Mung Chiang, President of Purdue University; Dr. Paul K. Kearns, Director of Argonne National Laboratory; and Dr. Robert Jones, Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the conversation focuses on emerging technologies vital to America’s economic future.

The Indiana-Illinois Corridor is becoming a model for creating ecosystems that commercialize cutting-edge technologies. Recent projects like the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park and SK Hynix’s AI memory chips facility in Purdue Research Park demonstrate the region’s momentum in developing technology hubs. Leaders will explore how these advancements in semiconductors, quantum science, and bioscience are positioning the Midwest as a leader in innovation.

A key theme of the discussion is the “super-convergence” of these industries, where their intersections are expected to drive future breakthroughs, creating new jobs, companies, and industries.

Key topics include:

• The urgency of leadership in advanced technologies and the risks of falling behind.
• How regional collaboration among Purdue, Argonne, and the University of Illinois is building a strategic innovation ecosystem.
• Insights into how these advancements impact the U.S. economy and national security.

Participants will also discuss the “radical collaboration” approach that regional leaders are adopting, which encourages partnerships across sectors to fuel innovation.

The event is part of a national “Competitiveness Conversations Across America” series, which focuses on best practices for enhancing innovation in every region across the United States. Hosts and key speakers are available for interviews upon request.

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