Northwest Indiana’s engine of regional renewal fueled by creativity, problem-solving
When the Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 prize in economics to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt, it did more than honor a few distinguished scholars. It recognized a truth that runs through every generation of progress: innovation, not capital or policy alone, is the most powerful force shaping our future.
Their pioneering work on how technology and creative destruction drive growth underscores what we see every day here in Northwest Indiana. Prosperity flourishes when communities value curiosity, reward ingenuity, and embrace the possibility of change.
Their message is as relevant to national economies as it is to local ones. Here in Northwest Indiana, we see firsthand how innovation drives renewal, revitalizes industries, strengthens communities, and creates new opportunities for growth.
That idea is at the heart of the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest. For 20 years, the Society has celebrated the thinkers, builders, dreamers and doers who embody the spirit of creativity and problem-solving. From global manufacturers to classroom teachers, from nonprofit and government leaders to main street entrepreneurs, we believe that anyone can be an innovator and that innovation can come from anywhere.
The Society’s Innovators Awards shine a spotlight on that belief. Each fall, we induct individuals and teams and recognize champions of innovation from across the seven counties of Northwest Indiana whose work demonstrates how innovation fuels not only business growth but community progress. These honorees remind us that innovation is not confined to laboratories or boardrooms, it happens wherever people challenge convention, test new ideas, and work together to make life better.
That same spirit drives the Society’s youth initiative, SparkED, a growing library of innovation and entrepreneurship resources for educators and students. Supported by Indiana’s READI initiative, SparkED helps young people connect classroom learning with real-world creativity through videos, activities and mentorship connections featuring local innovators. By showcasing the stories of leaders who are reshaping Northwest Indiana, SparkED helps students see themselves as future problem-solvers and changemakers.
We are seeing this culture of innovation take root across the Region. Companies are exploring new technologies and product lines. Educators are aligning curricula with entrepreneurship pathways. Nonprofits are designing inventive approaches to community challenges. And our youth are gaining the skills and confidence to lead in ways that will make Northwest Indiana a place of continued renewal.
At its core, innovation is a deeply human endeavor. It grows when people are encouraged to share ideas, take risks, and support one another. That is the ecosystem we are building together.
The Nobel laureates reminded us that progress is not automatic; it is a choice. It happens when communities invest in learning, creativity, and experimentation. Here in Northwest Indiana, we are making that choice every day. As the Society of Innovators marks its 20th year, the same values that sparked our founding, curiosity, courage and collaboration, now guide our future. By nurturing those traits, we are positioning both the Society and Northwest Indiana to thrive through innovation for the next 20 years and beyond.
Gary Johnson is chair of the SOI board, and Jason Williams is CEO of SOI. The opinions are the writers.
