Published On: 03/15/2019Categories: Agbiosciences

State of IoT Report Highlights Indiana’s Agbiosciences

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The Indiana IoT Lab released its first State of IoT report. The Fishers-based lab, which is also celebrating its first anniversary this month, says the nearly 100-page report focuses on the core economic pillars in Indiana: manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture.

The Indiana IoT Lab is released its first State of IoT report. The Fishers-based lab, which is also celebrating its first anniversary this month, says the nearly 100-page report focuses on the core economic pillars in Indiana: manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture.

Jason Pennington, executive director of the Indiana IoT Lab, says the report features more than 20 companies coming together to speak to the business climate for connected technologies in central Indiana.

In an interview with Inside INdiana Business Reporter Mary-Rachel Redman, Pennington said the report took on a very fluid life of its own.

“We started really with a mission to talk about the first year of what we had accomplished here at the Indiana IoT Lab with some of our key sponsors and stakeholders and then really, as the project unfolded, we started working even more deeper into our three pillars of manufacturing, distribution and agriculture,” said Pennington. “As a function of that, we started engaging local companies that were doing global technology, mid-level firms working more at a national and regional environment. It really speaks to the environment for a startup in such industries.”

“As the project unfolded, we started working even deeper into our three pillars of manufacturing, distribution and agriculture.”

The lab says the report evaluates the current state and challenges ahead for each of the three pillars, as well as how Internet of Things technology is making an impact and how the Indiana IoT Lab is working to future-proof each industry. It also includes a deep dive into the fundamental building blocks of IoT, such as machine learning, data and analytics, and cybersecurity.

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Growing things with IoT

The agricultural technology industry is growing at rapid rates with more innovation needed to keep up with growing population demands, consumer trends, and required production efficiencies. Data-driven and cutting edge, today’s agriculture industry continues its history of innovative machinery, emerging sciences, and land management practices.

See pages 38-47 to learn more.

The Indiana IoT Lab opened March 21, 2018 in Fishers as a public-private partnership among Launch Fishers, the city of Fishers, the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Indiana University, Comcast Business and Allegion. Pennington says the facility is already nearing capacity being home to 17 companies.

“We almost have a waiting list now for tenants in less than a year, people that really want to be part of the environment,” said Pennington. “So it’s been amazing to see that, although we’re 20 companies almost under one roof, it really feels like more of a community and more family-like every day, when you see companies working together, trading equipment, sharing some of their expertise amongst each other for the benefit of the community is unbelievable.”

How Will IoT Change Agriculture?

Earlier this year, John McDonald (CEO of Fishers-based ClearObject) appeared on our AG+BIO+SCIENCE Podcast with Inside INdiana Business host Gerry Dick to talk about the potential for IoT in the agbiosciences throughout the state.