Preparing for the Future through Understanding

From 2021-2026, IEAM was privileged to be designated as a United States Economic Development Administration University Center, focused on leveraging university assets to build regional economic ecosystems to support innovation and high-growth entrepreneurship, resiliency, and inclusiveness. University Center programs were designed to respond to the economic development needs of their regions and were uniquely demand-driven by nature. 

Since the conclusion of the University Center program, IEAM remains deeply embedded in the community, committed to supporting infrastructure improvements and innovation, and determined to make cooperative investments in local and regional growth. Workforce development is one way we support the regional economy, training hundreds of students annually through interdisciplinary, community-engaged learning strategies that help them deepen their understanding of their fellow Hoosiers and the complex issues facing Indiana communities.

 

A Human-Centered Design Approach

IEAM contributes to Indiana’s economic development future using human-centered design approaches to create understanding of how people and society will be affected by technological change. Our interdisciplinary collaboration of faculty, staff, and students from IU Research, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, & Engineering, Herron School of Art + Design, O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs, Kelley School of Business, and the Purdue School of Engineering Technology in Indianapolis works in a cohort on diverse projects related to the future of transportation and food systems logistics. We partner with the Toyota Mobility Foundation, Toyota Production System Support Center, Indy Hunger Network, Gleaners Food Bank, Nine13 Logistics, many area non-profits & food pantries, the Transportation and Autonomous Systems Institute, the Center for Excellence in Manufacturing, and the FLEET Center to create efficiencies in the charitable food system and to research possible futures for electrified and autonomous delivery.

The Need

Mobility and logistics are on the cusp of disruptive changes not seen since the advent of the automobile due to electrification and autonomous technologies. Without strategic action, these changes will quickly impact the entire transportation ecosystem, in many cases outpacing the ability of industry, government, and communities to adapt. The Indiana region needs to prepare for these coming changes and how they will affect logistics, manufacturing, transportation, and social services.

What We Offer

Knowledge Dissemination

Create and develop tools to become a resource that regional partners can leverage for information on EAV transportation systems and interdisciplinary, community-engaged learning

Workforce Development

Work with regional partners to address future workforce needs by collaborating with industry, government and academia

Innovation and Applied Research

In preparation for the eventual deployment of EAV transportation systems, collaborate with regional partners to encourage innovative ways of leveraging EAV systems

Vision for EAV Deployment

Collaborate with regional partners to provide a vision of the deployment of EAV transportation systems

Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) has collaborated previously with IU and Purdue on other mobility initiatives and provided a letter of support for IUI’s grant application to the EDA for the creation of this Initiative. Advancing electrification and autonomy are key tenets of TMF, and we look forward to continuing to support IUI.

 - Toyota Mobility Foundation