Purdue Launches Next Moves Initiatives

WEST LAFAYETTE - Purdue University has launched a series of five strategic initiatives it says will help advance its competitive advantage. The university’s board of trustees has voted to approve Purdue’s Next Moves, which includes a $260 million investment over five years.

The initiatives identified in Purdue's Next Moves include plant sciences 2.0, national security and technology, the Purdue Applied Research Institute, transformative education 2.0, and an equity task force.

The effort follows the original Purdue Moves initiative, which launched in 2013 and served as the university’s strategic plan, focusing on affordability and accessibility, world-changing research, STEM leadership, transformative education, and online education.”

“The results and the impact that have come from these initiatives have become part of the fabric and culture of Purdue – as was intended, said Mike Berghoff, chair of the board of trustees. 'As trustees, we have watched with great pride this path of innovation, achievement and growth. We watched you achieve and surpass the expectations that were set out for you. As these moves continue, we now choose Purdue’s Next Moves to leverage our strengths and move our students, the university and the world toward a safer, more sustainable and equitable future.”

Key investments for the plant sciences 2.0 initiative will include digital forestry, phenotyping facilities and data scientists, the center for food demand analysis and sustainability, commercialization through Ag-Celerator and an Impact Fund.

Through the national security and technology initiative, Purdue says it will work to address some of the greatest technology challenges facing the U.S. in four strategic areas: hypersonic and space vehicles, energetic materials and systems, cybersecurity, and secure microelectronics.

Through the Purdue Applied Research Institute, Purdue says it will reach its full potential to support a large and complex portfolio of applied and translational research programs with national and global impact. The initiative is designed to provide the advanced facilities and infrastructure to support of mission critical efforts of federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, and provide opportunities for faculty and students to participate in applied research, among others.

Purdue says PARI will initially focus on three strategic areas: digital innovation in agri-food systems, national security and technology, and global development and innovation.

The university says its newly-formed Equity Task Force's goal is to increase the number of Black students on its West Lafayette campus, to enhance the quality of their time at Purdue. The task force will be charged with enacting a comprehensive set of initiatives and action plans around representation, experience and success.

The funding will include $182 million from university funds and $78 million from external sources. Purdue says it will roll out additional details about each of the Next Moves, including goals, metrics and action items, over the next several weeks.