Opening in 2024, lab will feature state-of-the-art training systems to attract and prepare students for careers in smart manufacturing
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – May 8, 2024 –16 Tech Community Corporation and Ivy Tech Community College today announced that a new Ivy Tech Manufacturing Innovation Training Center supported by Eli Lilly and Company will join 16 Tech’s growing ecosystem of facilities, programs and resources to support innovation-driven entrepreneurship and the tech-enablement of Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and life sciences industries. The lab is scheduled to open in summer 2024 in the Emerging Manufacturing Collaboration Center (EMC2) located in 16 Tech.
The Ivy Tech Manufacturing Innovation Training Center will serve as a biopharmaceutical training center for Lilly and other companies working at the intersection of health, advanced manufacturing and technology.
“The Ivy Tech Innovation in Manufacturing Training Center adds a key resource to the growing education, workforce and talent programs available in 16 Tech that support pathways to jobs in advanced industries,” said Emily Krueger, 16 Tech President & CEO. “16 Tech’s role is to ensure the awareness and accessibility of these resources for the diverse talent that live near the 16 Tech Innovation District as well as the availability of holistic wrap-around services that reduce barriers to employment.”
The Ivy Tech Manufacturing Innovation Training Center will also serve as a work and learning hub for the Lilly Scholars, high-achieving Ivy Tech students who intend to pursue a career in pharmaceutical manufacturing after receiving a certificate or associate degree in fields such as industrial technology and smart manufacturing and digital integration (SMDI). Ivy Tech’s new Smart Manufacturing Digital Integration (SMDI) degree was the first associate degree in the nation to train students to certifications demonstrating competencies in the exciting world of autonomous system integration. This new generation of automation provides for great careers where learning continues as technologies grow.
“The Ivy Tech Manufacturing Innovation Training Center will open the door of opportunity to people who want to change their lives by making medicines and products that people around the world need,” said Molly Dodge, senior vice president for workforce and careers, Ivy Tech Community College. “This state-of-the-art space will provide the hands-on, experiential learning opportunities our Lilly Scholars need to master the technologies of the future so they can lead Indiana’s companies into the next era of advanced manufacturing innovation and excellence.”
The new lab will be fully automated with state-of-the-art integrated training systems from Amatrol, a Jeffersonville-based company and the world’s leader in skills-based, interactive technical learning. Its comprehensive training solutions align with industry needs to teach hands-on skills in the latest Industry 4.0 automated systems.
The Ivy Tech Manufacturing Innovation Training Center aims to attract and prepare diverse talent for careers in advanced manufacturing, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical manufacturing. The lab seeks to connect neighbors from 16 Tech’s surrounding communities to high-quality education and training opportunities that lead to in-demand, well-paying jobs. The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to locating key training and innovation assets close to where diverse talent lives to reduce barriers to entry to the industries of the future.
“This training center will help grow manufacturing careers in Indiana and contribute to Lilly’s ability to meet the global demand for our medicines,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president, Lilly manufacturing. “We appreciate the strong collaboration between industry, academia and government in Indiana to make this happen.”
The Ivy Tech Manufacturing Innovation Training Center is supported by Eli Lilly and Company, 16 Tech Community Corporation and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Individuals interested in applying for Lilly Scholars at Ivy Tech can learn more about the program by visiting IvyTech.edu/Lilly-Scholars. New scholarships are awarded to eligible students every 8-week term at Ivy Tech locations throughout Indiana.
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About 16 Tech
Opened in 2020, the 16 Tech Innovation District is a growing destination for innovation and entrepreneurship and a driver of the tech enablement of the life-sciences and advanced manufacturing industries key to Indiana’s economy. Connected to diverse neighborhoods in downtown Indianapolis and intentionally resourced with facilities and programs to foster innovation, 16 Tech is home to three buildings with a variety of office, wet and dry lab spaces and makerspaces and 200+ innovation related entities that employ more than 800 people. At full build-out, 16 Tech anticipates more 2 million square feet of innovation related space that support 3,000 jobs. The nonprofit 16 Tech Community Corporation oversees the programmatic and physical development of the district and ensures benefits of economic growth, new investment and job creation extend to nearby neighborhoods as well as the city, the region, and the state. More information can be found at
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech serves more than 180,000 students annually at campuses throughout Indiana and online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor’s degree.
