The seven ingredients below are critical to powering cross-sector innovation. Indiana’s rankings within these categories show why we are primed to become the Innovation Capital of the WorldTM.
Infrastructure
#1 Best Airport in North America
The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) leads the continent again among midsized airports, taking the top spot 12 years in a row as Best Airport in North America as named by Airports Council International (ACI) World.
#1 Best Infrastructure
Carrying some 277 million tons of cargo per year, Indiana’s rail network is among the busiest in the nation. It helps the Hoosier State earn its title as the Crossroads of America. But Indiana also scores well overall for sustainability.
Top 4 State in Clean Energy Capacity in Development
The U.S. now has more than 200 gigawatts of total operating utility-scale clean power capacity, and it will soon be adding 120 gigawatts more. This planned growth is due in part to 28 GW of new power-purchase agreements signed in 2021. More than half of the capacity in this clean energy pipeline is concentrated in just 10 states.
Talent
#1 Largest Medical School
The Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine is the nation’s largest medical school, and its MD program is the largest undergraduate medical education program.
#1 Most Innovative School in the Midwest
In spring and summer 2023, U.S. News asked top college officials to identify institutions in their Best Colleges ranking category that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.
#1 Agricultural & Biological Engineering School
Biological and agricultural engineers aim to improve the natural world, working toward goals such as safer food, cleaner water and less polluted air. These are the top graduate engineering schools for biological/agricultural engineering.
Mission Critical Industries
#1 Orthopedics Capital of the World
Coined as the Orthopedic Capital of the World by OrthoWorx, Northeast Indiana represents 50% of the global orthopedic market for total joint replacements. The region’s medical device industry makes up more than 22,000 jobs in Northeast Indiana, producing $19 billion in revenue.
#2 Worldwide Exporter of Life Sciences
In 2020, more than $11.4 billion of products were exported from the state, representing more than $192,000 of output per worker, the highest amount ever recorded.
#1 Advanced Manufacturing Jobs
Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan have been named the Top Manufacturing States in a new rankings category in Business Facilities‘ 13th Annual Rankings Report. IN, WI and MI finished one, two and three, respectively, in a ranking based on the percentage of the state’s workforce employed by manufacturing.
Technology
#1 Best Place to Start a Tech Company
It falls to you to make sure that you run the business well and make the right decisions in the early stages. One of those decisions is the location of your new business.
#2 Best Place to Start a Business
In an era where the cost of living is skyrocketing and wages remain stagnant, the challenges are manifold. Even the decision of which state to start a business in, such as forming an LLC, can significantly influence your odds of success.
Two Top 25 Best Cities to Start a Business
Are some cities better for small business owners than others? We crunched the numbers and found the best 25 U.S. cities for new businesses in 2023.
Lifestyle
#1 Best Children’s Museum in the US
It can be a challenge to keep kids entertained, especially on rainy days that limit what you can do outdoors. Luckily, these 10 museums — chosen by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the United States.
#1 Best Place to Live
The top spot: Fishers, Indiana, a fast-growing suburb of Indianapolis with 11.6 percent job growth projected by 2021, a redeveloped downtown and plans underway for an expansive waterfront park at Geist Reservoir.
Racing Capital of the World
Indianapolis is the Racing Capital of the World—and for good reason! Every year, thousands of racing fans from around the globe make the pilgrimage to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
Cost of Living
#1 Best Market for First-Time Home Buyers
Buying your first home is a stepping stone, a long-sought-after objective for many and a way to build equity while starting a new life. How easy is it to buy your first home, though? The simple, honest answer is that it’s not so easy.
#1 Best Place for Renters
It’s pretty awesome to rent in Indianapolis, according to a new study from Forbes. The city is No. 1 on the list, thanks to what the magazine calls “astonishingly low average monthly rents and astonishingly high levels of affordability.”
#1 Most Affordable Cities
There’s been a big shift in society over the past two years with Americans moving in droves and seeking out a better quality of life and more affordable places to live.
Regulatory Environment
3.2% Personal Income Tax Rate
4.9% Corporate Tax rate