August 2005

Cyberinfrastructure is key for Indiana's future economy

By Sangtae Kim

For any state or region to enjoy a competitive economic advantage, it must have a superior infrastructure, such as the highways and bridges of the transportation system, a reliable supply of affordable electricity and other elements of the power grid.

In today's economy, with the pervasive presence of information technology, an increasingly important role is being played by another type of infrastructure, called "cyberinfrastructure." This is the IT network made up of computers, software, databases, transmission lines and facilities, as well as the people and services needed to make the system work.

Cyberinfrastructure is central to scientific advancement in the modern research environment. For example, a revolution in the life sciences, including the seminal achievement of sequencing the human genome on an accelerated time frame, was made possible by parallel advances in cyberinfrastructure for research in this data-intensive field.

But cyberinfrastructure is fast becoming as integral to everyday life as it is to research.

In the Indianapolis Star's June 1 Dialogue & Letters section, a writer envisioned new and innovative transportation-funding methods via cyberinfrastructure technologies like on-road sensors, radio-frequency transmitters and global-positioning devices – in other words, a convergence of transportation infrastructure and cyberinfrastructure. Another piece published on May 1 in the Star envisioned a transformative revitalization of the aging power grid, using cyberinfrastructure to avoid large-scale power failures by splitting the grid into a series of smaller, sensor-laden segments that could be better controlled.

The future of the power grid is tied closely to advances in cyberinfrastructure.

This brings us to the key point of the role of cyberinfrastructure in creating a competitive edge for Indiana: "Infrastructure convergence," or combining cyber and other classic infrastructures, is clearly the foundation for driving economic growth in new areas, such as those in the life sciences, as well as revitalizing our core strengths, including the state's manufacturing base.

Other regions in the United States and beyond have embraced this cyber vision as well.

So, is there a compelling cyber advantage for Indiana?

The answer is a most emphatic yes, and here we have the kernel of a "how to" roadmap for Indiana's economic growth in the 21^st century. Because of the state's geographical location, Indiana stands to reap great benefits from this ongoing cyber revolution that many believe will bring a high level of investments driven by free-market forces.

A recent workshop report from the National Science Foundation highlighted nascent developments in logistics and supply-chain technologies linking retailers to manufacturers as the next big wave of this cyber revolution. Indiana, as the crossroads of America, is already a major player, and many would say the leader, in this field. The second wave will feature new cyber techniques for inventory management, which, when coupled with ultra-efficient supply chains, will form the basis for agile manufacturers to respond rapidly to shifting consumer tastes. Cyberinfrastructure is enabling companies to quickly modify products to better suit shifting consumer needs. Companies choosing to exploit this "agile manufacturing" trend must place themselves at the epicenter of the U.S. population, and this is an advantage other regions cannot replicate. We in Indiana have much to gain not just by preparing for but by accelerating the time scale to this future landscape. The state can effectively speed progress in this area by bridging the "digital divide" between the haves and have-nots and boosting research funding in cyberinfrastructure.

Purdue University, like other institutions, is addressing these issues through its newly formed Cyber Center in Discovery Park, the university's hub for interdisciplinary research.

Yes, there will be "new economy" jobs in creating, building and deploying cyberinfrastructure, but many more jobs will be created by attracting new firms to our region as well as increasing the success rate for new startups — with a cyberinfrastructure second to none.