Held in National Harbor, MD, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest profile event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations (EDOs), and industry experts to make deals happen. Delegations from around the world attend the conference to learn more about U.S. states and what they can offer to foreign industry.
Positioning Indiana as a launchpad for global partnerships, Purdue Research Foundation attended SelectUSA 2026 and reinforced its commitment to helping international companies locate, grow, and succeed in Indiana. Working in close alignment with Purdue University and the state of Indiana, PRF offers foreign direct investment (FDI) an integrated ecosystem designed to reduce market-entry risk and accelerate long-term success for global firms. With nearly 40 countries and territories represented and over 220,000 Indiana jobs already directly supported by majority-foreign owned companies, the pathway to success in Indiana is proven—and only growing.
“One of the big lessons we’ve learned over the years is that trust matters,” said Chad Pittman, PRF President & CEO. “These companies are making multi-decade decisions, and they need to know the people, the state, and the university will be reliable partners over the long haul. We understood very quickly that global companies aren’t just looking for incentives, they’re looking for ecosystems. Their experiences reinforce that Indiana, through PRF’s relationship building expertise and the power of Purdue, can deliver that.”
Global leaders like imec, MediaTek, TSMC, SK hynix, Rolls-Royce, Saab, Corteva Agriscience, Eli Lilly, and Merck have already chosen Indiana for its ecosystem, with Purdue partnerships a key driver in developing talent, driving innovation, and supporting economic growth.
SelectUSA not only serves as a catalyst for early partnership discussions, but it also opens opportunities for additional visits and tours. Taiwanese semiconductor companies visited Purdue, hoping to expand investment opportunities in high-tech and other strategic sectors. During their time in Indiana, the semiconductor delegation met with semiconductor research experts from Purdue University, industry leaders with existing partnerships, and other Indiana semiconductor industry professionals to better understand the semiconductor industry ecosystem in the American Midwest.
Once companies choose Indiana, partners across the state help facilitate the transition every step of the way. PRF offers physical locations, commercialization expertise, a deep and highly skilled talent pool, and connections to Purdue’s world-class research and labs. Paired with its top-rated business-friendly climate, workforce development, and regulatory assistance from the state, Indiana is positioned as a competitive and reliable destination for FDI.
A defining example of the ecosystem’s effectiveness is the partnership between the university and industry leaders like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and MediaTek. A 2023 agreement with TSMC saw the expansion of their collaborative scope through additional workforce development and research programs through 2031, while MediaTek’s latest collaboration with Purdue saw the opening of its expanded chip design center in the Kurz Purdue Technology Center in the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette.
Additionally, the 2024 SK hynix announcement of a facility for AI memory chips located in West Lafayette’s Purdue Research Park, marking the largest single economic development in the history of the state. The nearly $4 billion investment cast a definitive vote for Indiana and marked the start —not end—of a growing wave of semiconductor investment in the state.
As global companies reassess long supply chains and national security risks, Indiana is well positioned to support trusted, resilient semiconductor and advanced technology supply chains. Ongoing investment and partnership by global companies affirm Indiana’s emergence as a hub for semiconductor innovation and positioned the park as a premier economic engine. Purdue Research Parks and the Discovery Park District are more than locations: they’re part of a thriving ecosystem supported by leadership committed to collaboration-driven growth.
Major investments from industry leaders underscore PRF’s capacity to assist companies in solving complex, often undefined problems through the deliberate cultivation of trust and partnership.
Following SelectUSA 2026, PRF, Purdue University, and the state of Indiana continue to work together to convert international interest into long-term investment. By lowering market entry barriers for foreign firms and accelerating innovation and job creation, Indiana is proving that successful economic development is built on trust, alignment, and enduring partnership.
As global companies increasingly look to the Midwest not just for incentives, but for ecosystems, Indiana stands ready and aligned to deliver.
About Purdue Research Foundation
Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires and sells property; protects and licenses Purdue’s intellectual property; and supports creating Purdue-connected startups on behalf of Purdue. The foundation operates Purdue Innovates, which includes the Office of Technology Commercialization, Incubator and Ventures. The foundation manages Purdue Research Park, Discovery Park District, Purdue Technology Centers and Purdue for Life Foundation.
For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact Purdue Innovates at purdueinnovates@prf.org.
Media contact: Polly Barks, phbarks@prf.org
