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Indiana's research universities can help the state develop a sound economy, according to the president of Indiana University, and so can the orthopedic industries in Kosciusko County.
Myles Brand, IU's 16th president, spoke to the noon Rotary Club Friday at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. He said a partnership between business, government and higher education is necessary for Indiana's future growth.
"It's not rocket science," he said. "Across the country we've seen research universities grow with their states and we must do that in our state."
The biomedical industry, including orthopedics, is a strength, not only in Warsaw but also in the entire state, Brand said.
"I think biomedical is the state's best hope for a competitive advantage," he said. "We need to make our mark primarily in the biomedical field."
IU's genetics research, called the Indiana Genomics Initiative, has generated a $105-million grant from Lilly Endowment, Brand said, which is the largest grant Lilly Endowment ever gave any one entity.
"It will put IU on the cutting edge in medical research," he said, and he expects approximately $250 million more in federal grants.
"The more money we can bring home from Washington to create jobs, the better we can do," he said. "For every dollar invested in research, it's been shown that $17 circulates in the economy."
Indiana is in a painful transition now, with the loss of thousands of jobs in the manufacturing sector, he said, and he thinks the orthopedic industry in Warsaw will be in a position to be "a key player in that transition."
During a question-and-answer session after his speech, Brand was asked if the term "student-athlete" should be reversed.
"Not at IU," he said. "Our student athletes graduate at a greater rate than our general population."
He also was asked if students coming to IU as freshmen are prepared for college.
"It's improving," he said. "It's not as bad as naysayers say, but it's not as good as it could be."
Tuition at IU will continue to increase, he said, but it's still a good bargain.
"It costs less than $5,000 for a year's tuition," he said, "and you can graduate in four years for less than $20,000. ... You can't get a very nice car these days for under $20,000, but you can get a hell of an education."
