WHIN: Wabash Heartland Innovation Network

WHIN

The Wabash Heartland Innovation Network is a consortium of 10 counties in north-central Indiana devoted to working together to fuel prosperity by harnessing the power of Internet-enabled sensors to develop our region into a global epicenter of digital agriculture and next-generation manufacturing.



Subscribe to monthly WHIN Newsletter

Photo courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

USING DATA TO HELP NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA THRIVE

It took 2 generations of farmers in the rural parts of the midwest to choose to adopt electricity about 100 years ago. We are still suffering in our country from the socio-economic divide caused by this lapse. There is another technology emerging with the same potential to change the world, data. In a similar way, the urban centers are already beginning to receive data and digital communication capabilities like broadband, and the rural areas are lagging behind…not just in streaming video, but in more socio-economic drivers like online education and online jobs as well. WHIN exists to keep what happened with electricity adoption from happening again with data adoption in rural America.

WHIN focuses on the region’s under-investment in what Brooking’s GPS Report calls "digitalization" in industry. Digitalization is the adoption of digital technology through things like IoT. The term Internet of Things (IoT) refers to everything that is the Internet (I) as we know it, applied to the physical world (T) as a “user.” It’s input/output devices to connect users to data, and all that data is networked to single location in the cloud where it can be analyzed to help those users make better decisions.

We do this by attracting and vetting technology providers, then working with them to lower the risk for our Alliance members to try out their innovations. And in the process all the data gets sent back to WHIN to be organized and made available for research so more technology providers can be created. The research data is what we call our Living Lab.

Data shows that digitalization is correlated with higher productivity, and higher productivity leads to more investment, and ultimately to a higher standard of living and quality of life. In the end, in much the same way southern California did for silicon 75 years ago, WHIN is building a self-sustaining, virtuous ecosystem around emerging technology pathways related to sensors and data. If we can get everything working together, and everyone benefitting, why wouldn’t commerce come to our Data Decagon in much the same way it has come to the Silicon Valley?

Wabash Heartland Innovation Network is focused upon serving 10 counties: Pulaski, White, Cass, Benton, Carroll, Tippecanoe, Warren, Fountain, Montgomery, and Clinton. By promoting smart technology throughout these 10 counties, WHIN is aiming to become the first recognized smart region in the nation.

David Lasater
David Lasater

David is President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette. Previously, he held roles at Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation for over 18 years, working in various capacities.  David plays an integral role in the greater Lafayette community, and WHIN is lucky to have him serve on our Board of Directors.

Natasha Cox
Natasha Cox

Natasha Cox, Regional Vice President for Farm Credit Mid America, hails from Benton County and her background and experience in the ag industry is integral for the WHIN board.

Stephanie Long
Stephanie Long

Stephanie is the President and CEO of North Central Health Services. Previously, she was the CEO of IU Health White Memorial Hospital and brings over 25 years of hospital administration experience and has served on the Indiana Hospital Association board and as chairwomen on the Council on Rural Health. We are lucky to have her healthcare expertise on our Board of Directors!



10 counties. 2 sectors. 1 vision.

Wabash Heartland Innovation Network is focused upon serving 10 counties: Pulaski, White, Cass, Benton, Carroll, Tippecanoe, Warren, Fountain, Montgomery, and Clinton. By promoting smart technology throughout these 10 counties, WHIN is aiming to become the first recognized smart region in the nation.

Indiana State map
WHIN region mapnetwork
Lilly Endowment
The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette
Purdue University
Ivy Tech Community College