Purdue University Northwest earns national recognition for support of startup innovators
Purdue University Northwest was recognized by Angeles Investors for its support of entrepreneurial innovators and startup ecosystems that drive local communities forward.
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) recently received a 2025 Higher Education Impact Award honor from Angeles Investors in recognition of its support of entrepreneurial innovators and startup ecosystems that drive local communities forward.
PNW, through its office of Commercialization and Research and the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center (CMEC), helps catalyze economic development and technological transfer. By offering entrepreneurial expertise, dedicated staff members help incubate innovative ideas for commercialization and host workspace and training to grow Northwest Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Staff members consult driven innovators step-by-step through the commercialization process, from market research through product viability and patent application.
PNW’s CMEC has helped advise and position numerous innovators to successfully launch different ventures. To date, CMEC staff members have helped secure 26 Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) agreements, nine full utility patents and the filing of 39 provisional patents.
Angeles Investors recognized PNW among just over 50 other higher education institutions from across the U.S. during its Q3 Summit and Awards event in Chicago, Illinois.
As a student-centric university... we are delighted that this award recognizes the innovative education and entrepreneurial opportunities Purdue University Northwest provides to our students and other members of our campus community.
Marie T. Mora, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs
“We are honored to receive the Higher Education Impact Award from Angeles Investors for the second year in a row,” said Marie T. Mora, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “As a student-centric university with the institutional vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, we are delighted that this award recognizes the innovative education and entrepreneurial opportunities Purdue University Northwest provides to our students and other members of our campus community.”
PNW also holds a major recognition as one of three Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities in Indiana. The designation from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities acknowledges public research institutions with strong evidence of collaboration with public and private sector partners to support economic development, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer talent, workforce development and community development.
PNW’s Roberts Impact Lab is under development and will serve as the next major step for providing regional technological transfer and innovation. The lab will be the centerpiece in Hammond, Indiana’s downtown innovation district and will include scientific research, development and makerspaces, as well as host a quantum commercialization center in partnership with Quantum Corridor and the Chicago region’s Bloch Tech Hub.