2023 Indiana Code › Title 36. Local Government › Article 7. Planning and Development › Chapter 32. Certified Technology Parks › 36-7-32-11. Designation; Recertification; Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Criteria

Sec. 11. (a) After receipt of an application under section 10 of this chapter, and subject to subsection (b), the Indiana economic development corporation may designate a certified technology park if the corporation determines that the application demonstrates a firm commitment from at least one (1) business engaged in a high technology activity creating a significant number of jobs and satisfies one (1) or more of the following additional criteria:
(1) A demonstration of significant support from an institution of higher education, a private research based institute, or a military research and development or testing facility on an active United States government military base or other military installation located within, or in the vicinity of, the proposed certified technology park, as evidenced by the following criteria:
(A) Grants of preferences for access to and commercialization of intellectual property.
(B) Access to laboratory and other facilities owned by or under the control of the postsecondary educational institution or private research based institute.
(C) Donations of services.
(D) Access to telecommunications facilities and other infrastructure.
(E) Financial commitments.
(F) Access to faculty, staff, and students.
(G) Opportunities for adjunct faculty and other types of staff arrangements or affiliations.
(H) Other criteria considered appropriate by the Indiana economic development corporation.
(2) A demonstration of a significant commitment by the postsecondary educational institution, private research based institute, or military research and development or testing facility on an active United States government military base or other military installation to the commercialization of research produced at the certified technology park, as evidenced by the intellectual property and, if applicable, tenure policies that reward faculty and staff for commercialization and collaboration with private businesses.
(3) A demonstration that the proposed certified technology park will be developed to take advantage of the unique characteristics and specialties offered by the public and private resources available in the area in which the proposed certified technology park will be located.
(4) The existence of or proposed development of a business incubator within the proposed certified technology park that exhibits the following types of resources and organization:
(A) Significant financial and other types of support from the public or private resources in the area in which the proposed certified technology park will be located.
(B) A business plan exhibiting the economic utilization and availability of resources and a likelihood of successful development of technologies and research into viable business enterprises.
(C) A commitment to the employment of a qualified full-time manager to supervise the development and operation of the business incubator.
(5) The existence of a business plan for the proposed certified technology park that identifies its objectives in a clearly focused and measurable fashion and that addresses the following matters:
(A) A commitment to new business formation.
(B) The clustering of businesses, technology, and research.
(C) The opportunity for and costs of development of properties under common ownership or control.
(D) The availability of and method proposed for development of infrastructure and other improvements, including telecommunications technology, necessary for the development of the proposed certified technology park.
(E) Assumptions of costs and revenues related to the development of the proposed certified technology park.
(6) A demonstrable and satisfactory assurance that the proposed certified technology park can be developed to principally contain property that is primarily used for, or will be primarily used for, a high technology activity or a business incubator.
(b) The Indiana economic development corporation may not approve an application that would result in a substantial reduction or cessation of operations in another location in Indiana in order to relocate them within the certified technology park. The Indiana economic development corporation may designate not more than two (2) new certified technology parks during any state fiscal year. The designation of a new certified technology park is subject to review and approval under section 11.5 of this chapter.
(c) A certified technology park designated under this section is subject to the review of the Indiana economic development corporation and must be recertified:
(1) every four (4) years, for a recertification occurring before January 1, 2018, or after December 31, 2019; and
(2) every three (3) years, for a recertification occurring after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2020.
(d) The corporation shall develop procedures and the criteria to be used in the review required under subsection (c). The procedures and criteria must include the metrics developed under subsection (h) for measuring the performance of a certified technology park.
(e) A certified technology park shall furnish to the corporation the following information to be used in the course of the review:
(1) Total employment and payroll levels for all businesses operating within the certified technology park.
(2) The nature and extent of any technology transfer activity occurring within the certified technology park.
(3) The nature and extent of any nontechnology businesses operating within the certified technology park.
(4) The use and outcomes of any state money made available to the certified technology park.
(5) An analysis of the certified technology park's overall contribution to the technology based economy in Indiana.
(6) The nature and extent of financial support secured by the certified technology park from outside sources such as philanthropy, federal government, local government, and other private or nonprofit sources, and including the nature, type, and structure of the funding mechanisms to support the development and growth of the certified technology park.
(7) The nature and extent of incubation services provided to businesses consistent with incubation industry best practices, and growth or relocations of those businesses outside the certified technology park.
(8) The nature and extent of partnerships undertaken between the certified technology park and local and regional organizations in pursuit of shared objectives.
(f) A certified technology park must meet or exceed the minimum threshold requirements developed under subsection (h)(2) before the certified technology park may be recertified under this section. If a certified technology park is not recertified, the Indiana economic development corporation shall send a certified copy of a notice of the determination to the county auditor, the department of local government finance, and the department of state revenue.
(g) To the extent allowed under IC 5-14-3, the corporation shall maintain the confidentiality of any information that is:
(1) submitted as part of the review process under subsection (c); and
(2) marked as confidential;
by the certified technology park.
(h) The corporation, in conjunction with the office of management and budget, shall develop metrics for measuring the performance of a certified technology park during the review period for recertification under subsection (c). The corporation shall consult with local units of government in developing the metrics under this subsection. The metrics shall include at least the following elements:
(1) Specific criteria to be used to analyze and evaluate each category of information furnished to the corporation under subsection (e)(1) through (e)(8).
(2) Minimum threshold requirements for the performance of a certified technology park regarding each category of information furnished to the corporation under subsection (e)(1) through (e)(8) based on the criteria for the analysis and evaluation of the information under subdivision (1).
(i) The board of the Indiana economic development corporation shall adopt the metrics developed under subsection (h) as part of the criteria to be used in the corporation's review under subsection (c).
As added by P.L.192-2002(ss), SEC.187. Amended by P.L.81-2004, SEC.23; P.L.4-2005, SEC.144; P.L.2-2007, SEC.388; P.L.154-2007, SEC.1; P.L.3-2008, SEC.263; P.L.113-2010, SEC.138; P.L.293-2013(ts), SEC.44; P.L.259-2017, SEC.2; P.L.158-2019, SEC.32; P.L.105-2023, SEC.1.