OrthoWorx Celebrates NSF IMPACT Engine Designation

OrthoWorx is lauding an homage recently bestowed upon the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana. Led by Indiana University the NSF IMPACT Engine has been selected as part of the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program.

The NSF Engines program is one of the nation’s most competitive initiatives, designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by accelerating research, commercializing breakthrough technologies, developing talent, and creating long-term economic growth. As one of a select group of regions chosen nationwide, the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana will receive $15 million over the next two years, with the potential to receive up to $160 million over the next decade as milestone goals are achieved. The initiative is further supported by $179 million in commitments from Indiana-based partner organizations.

The NSF IMPACT Engine builds on the work of the Indiana Musculoskeletal Health Partnership for the Advancement of Care and Treatment, bringing together more than 170 partners representing industry, healthcare, higher education, research, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and government. Together, the coalition will accelerate the development and commercialization of musculoskeletal technologies while creating one of the world’s largest integrated musculoskeletal data resources to support research, product development, and patient care.

For Kosciusko County—considered the Orthopedic Capital of the World—the announcement reinforces the region’s global leadership in orthopedic and manufacturing innovation and creates new opportunities to connect local expertise with statewide research, entrepreneurship, and workforce initiatives, OrthoWorx executives claim.

“This is an exciting moment not only for Indiana, but especially for the Orthopedic Capital of the World,” OrthoWorx President/CEO Ryan Christner stated. “Our community has long demonstrated what’s possible when manufacturers, educators, health care providers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders work together. The NSF IMPACT Engine recognizes the strength of that collaborative model and creates new opportunities to accelerate innovation, strengthen our workforce, and improve musculoskeletal health for patients around the world.”

The initiative aligns closely with OrthoWorx’s mission to advance talent development, community enrichment and innovation while strengthening the long-term competitiveness of Indiana’s orthopedic industry.

“We are thrilled by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) recent grant announcement focused on musculoskeletal health,” said Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent, Warsaw Community Schools, “As a national leader in STEM education, Warsaw Community Schools’ instructional practices and innovative methodologies served as a cornerstone of the K-12 programming included in the grant application. Through this investment, we are excited to see these best practices continue to expand throughout our community and across Indiana, helping prepare students for high-demand STEM careers and strengthening the future workforce.”

Grace College has long partnered with industry to prepare students for careers in orthopedic medical device manufacturing, innovation and business leadership. The NSF IMPACT Engine further strengthens those connections by creating new opportunities for research, workforce development and entrepreneurship.

“The NSF IMPACT Engine reinforces what makes our region exceptional: the willingness of education, industry and community partners to work together toward a common goal,” Grace College President Dr. Drew Flamm commented. “For Grace College, it creates even greater opportunities to prepare students for meaningful careers while collaborating with industry leaders to advance research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We are excited to be part of an ecosystem that is shaping the future of musculoskeletal health and developing the talent that will lead it.”

The NSF IMPACT Engine also creates new opportunities to support startup companies, attract investment and bring groundbreaking technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace, building on the collaborative ecosystem that has made Indiana a global leader in orthopedic medical devices.

“Innovation happens when great ideas are supported by strong partnerships,” said Jim Lancaster, interim CEO of the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana. “The NSF IMPACT Engine gives Indiana an opportunity to unite researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and investors around a shared vision for advancing musculoskeletal health. By connecting these strengths, we can accelerate commercialization, attract new companies and talent, and ultimately improve quality of life for patients worldwide.”

To help the community better understand the potential impact this investment could have on northeast Indiana, OrthoWorx will feature a panel discussion during the inaugural OrthoWorx Summit on Aug. 12. Leaders representing education, innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development and the orthopedic industry will explore the significance of the NSF IMPACT Engine, discuss opportunities for the region, and examine how organizations across sectors can contribute to its long-term success.

“The OrthoWorx Summit was created to bring people together around the conversations shaping the future of our region,” Christner noted. “There is no better example of that than the NSF IMPACT Engine. We invite educators, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, community leaders, and anyone invested in the future of the Orthopedic Capital of the World to join us as we explore what this means for our region and how we can work together to maximize its impact.”

OrthoWorx Summit registration is currently open.

OrthoWorx was formed in 2009 through initial funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. to fill a critical void in the orthopedic industry, serving as a connector for industry, education, and our community, leveraging resources to drive positive change. OrthoWorx was specifically designed to make the northeast Indiana region the best place for orthopedic industry talent to grow and thrive. The organization is a catalyst, deepening connections among the various interrelated moving parts of the orthopedic industry ecosystem.