Purdue University has announced plans to create a 980-acre Aerospace District in West Lafayette, Indiana which will house public and private aerospace research facilities.
The project includes the purchase of Lafayette Aviation by Purdue aviation technology alumnus Scott Niswonger and Purdue Research Foundation.
“Purdue University has long been known as the Cradle of Astronauts, and our aviation and aeronautics programs are among the best in the world,” said Purdue University president, Mitch Daniel.
“The Purdue Research Park Aerospace District will be one of the most comprehensive and important enterprises we have undertaken. The end result will be a world-class park of additional educational, research and commerce opportunities for Indiana residents and Purdue students.”
Plans for the 980-acre aerospace district, which encompasses the Purdue University Airport, Lafayette Aviation and the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, include opportunities for aerospace companies that wish to collaborate with Purdue to build research and development facilities. The site has already been named an Indiana Certified Technology Park by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
“Purdue Research Foundation has a proven track record of success with its three other certified technology parks, and designating this newest one as an Indiana Certified Technology Park will enable our community to grow even further in educational and job prospects for our residents,” said Indiana State Representative, Randy Truitt.
The Purdue Research Park Aerospace District is owned by the Purdue Research Foundation and will be operated similarly to the foundation’s four Purdue Research Park sites around the state where more than 260 research, education and high-tech companies currently employ more than 4,500 people.
“This district will be a game-changer for our students and Purdue’s outreach efforts to partnering corporations,” said Dan Hasler, president of Purdue Research Foundation. “We are looking for research collaborators to complement the commercial and industrial aerospace work that will be done in the district and who have an interest in licensing some of the outstanding aerospace-related intellectual property coming out of the university.”
