Return to Research links
Download a PDF of this page (Adobe Acrobat Reader Required). - NEED PDF

Discovery Park enhances interdisciplinary research in primary areas of study represented by the following Centers: Birck Nanotechnology Center, Bindley Bioscience Center, e-Enterprise Center, Center for Advanced Manufacturing, and Discovery Learning Center. Collaboration of faculty across research disciplines enhances their efforts and provides students with substantial experience with working in teams. A sixth center, Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, integrates management research and educational efforts to develop a greater spirit of entrepreneurship among Purdue faculty and students. The initial funding of Discovery Park by Lilly Endowment allows Purdue faculty to attract financial support from other sources so that the impact is much greater not only in Indiana but throughout the world.

The mission of Discovery Park is to provide Purdue University with facilities, leadership, and systems that transcend traditional academic boundaries, fostering an innovative interdisciplinary environment for learning, discovery, and engagement that leads to intellectual excitement, scientific achievement, and economic growth and opportunities.

The vision of Discovery Park is for it to serve as a model for facilitating interdisciplinary endeavors and to be recognized for its people and their vibrant, progressive approach to discovery and learning. Their innovative interdisciplinary efforts will lead science, shape and engage industry, change the way people work, and improve the quality of life. Since its inception, Discovery Park has leveraged resources to secure $72.6 million in extramural funding for programs and projects. Funding has been awarded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund, Regenstrief Foundation, and the Indiana Proteomics Consortium. Discovery Park will attract new businesses to Indiana, increase the number of jobs, and create opportunities for Indiana citizens. Eight start-up companies have been launched by the faculty members associated with Discovery Park. Construction of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship was completed in June 2004. Construction of the Birck Nanotechnology Center and the Bindley Bioscience Center is well under way and will be completed by summer 2005.

EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Life Sciences Business Plan Competition

Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) — "Interfacing Basic Academic Research and Applied Needs of Manufacturing"

National Aeronautics and Space Administration project titled "Institute for Nanoelectronics and Computing"

National Science Foundation project titled "Network for Computational Nanotechnology"

National Aeronautics Space Administration project titled "Minimizing Equivalent Mass of a Regenerative Life-support Systems by Optimizing Kinetics and Energetics of Major Bio-transportations"

21st Century Research and Technology Fund project titled "Center for Computational Homeland Security"

21st Century Research and Technology Fund project titled "Discovery-to-Delivery of Pharmaceuticals: Safely and Efficiently Using Advanced Analytical and Informatics Technologies"

Regenstrief Foundation project titled "Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue"

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Center of Excellence — "Fusing the Talents of Engineering, Management, Science, and Technology"

Source: Office of the Provost