The Applied Research Institute (ARI) has unveiled plans for the Heartland BioWorks headquarters at 1200 Indiana Avenue in the 16 Tech Innovation District, a pivotal investment that will advance America’s biomanufacturing leadership and further position Indianapolis as a national hub for biomanufacturing innovation and workforce development.

The 20,000 square foot, two-story facility, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of its Regional Tech Hubs Program, will serve as both a workforce training and innovation center and the headquarters of the Heartland BioWorks Consortium, a national collaboration of industry, academia, and government partners.

The Heartland BioWorks headquarters will house state-of-the-art classroom, benchtop, and pilot scale infrastructure to provide first-in-class hands-on training and upskilling opportunities to rapidly grow Indiana’s biomanufacturing workforce. Beyond training, the facility will serve as a collaboration hub, uniting innovators across sectors to strengthen the Midwest’s role in America’s bioeconomy.

“Indiana is a place where innovation and industry meet, and the Heartland BioWorks headquarters embodies that,” said Indiana Governor Mike Braun. “This investment will help grow good-paying jobs, strengthen our life sciences sector, and ensure Indiana remains at the forefront of America’s effort to build and manufacture critical technologies right here at home.”

With funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and an additional $6 million investment from Eli Lilly and Company, the headquarters will serve as an interactive gateway to the 16 Tech Innovation District, complementing Indiana University’s IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences and uniting the efforts of Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College, EmployIndy, BioCrossroads, and others to expand opportunities within Indiana’s growing biomanufacturing industry.

“The Heartland BioWorks headquarters represents a national commitment to uniting human capital, research capabilities, and industrial capacity across the life sciences to secure America’s leadership in biotechnology and biomanufacturing,” said Andrew Kossack, CEO of the Applied Research Institute. “ARI is proud to lead this effort to ensure Indiana’s unique assets strengthen our nation’s competitive edge in this critical field.”

“When I helped author and pass the CHIPS and Science Act, this is the kind of national impact I envisioned,” said U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN). “Heartland BioWorks is proving that the Midwest can lead the next generation of American innovation, by developing the talent, technology, and partnerships needed to secure our nation’s economic and biosciences future.”

The headquarters aligns with the 16 Tech Innovation District master plan and has been approved by the 16 Tech Design Standards Committee and the Indianapolis Regional Center. Designed by RATIO, the facility is expected to become operational in mid-2027.

“This headquarters will be a national benchmark for innovation, talent, and opportunity” said Michelle Dennis, Regional Innovation Officer for Heartland BioWorks.

In an era defined by global competition and rapid technological change, Heartland BioWorks is demonstrating how regional collaboration can serve a national mission. By aligning local strengths with national priorities, ARI and its partners are building a model for how America can accelerate security through innovation and collaboration.-term growth.