Evansville’s ICET Hosts Event Showcasing Tech for Better Roads and Safer Water
On September 25, the Indiana Center for Emerging Technologies (ICET) partnered with the Indianapolis-based Heritage Group to host four pioneering startups from their 2024 global accelerator cohort. This marks a significant step forward in tackling some of the region’s most pressing infrastructure and environmental challenges.
The event, held at Innovation Pointe in downtown Evansville, featured innovative solutions aimed at improving road durability, repurposing plastic waste, and detecting and destroying harmful PFAS chemicals in water. The startups presented their cutting-edge technologies to an audience of industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and city officials.
A Strategic Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
ICET initiated the collaboration with the Heritage Group to bring their forward-thinking approach to the traditionally conservative sectors of construction and environmental services. “The Heritage Group has been a leader in seeking out emerging technologies that provide a competitive advantage for the future. We wanted to bring that leadership and capability to southwest Indiana as a model for regional industries to follow,” said Jason Salstrom from the ICET.
The partnership is seen as a strategic move to position Evansville as a hub for innovation in infrastructure and environmental management. The showcased startups - each aligned with the Heritage Group’s core business areas - offer solutions that could significantly benefit the local community.
The Startups: Innovating for Impact
TDRI: Specializes in high-speed, noninvasive subsurface moisture measurement technology designed to mitigate pothole formation and extend road longevity.
Driven Plastics: Utilizes local single-use plastic waste, otherwise filling landfills, to produce a superior road additive, extending pavement lifespan and reducing the need for road maintenance.
Forever Analytical Solutions (FAS): Provides rapid, field-deployable and home-test kits for detecting PFAS, harmful chemicals found in water, ensuring public health and environmental safety.
PFC-X: Offers a solution for the destruction and recycling of fluorocarbons from used filter media, reducing waste and environmental contamination.
These startups were chosen for their relevance to emerging issues in construction, waste management, and water safety. For example, Driven Plastics has already helped a county in Colorado achieve a LEED certification, a first in the state.
Pueblo, CO's Mark McCollough, Driven Plastics CEO, explains the innovative asphalt solutions the company provides to engineers and city officials in Evansville, IN.
Opportunities for Local Collaboration
ICET sees significant potential for collaboration between these startups and local companies. "Awareness of these technologies could help inform planning for both roads and the new water system being planned," said Logan Jenkins, Executive Director of ICET. “Local engineering firms in attendance expressed interest in exploring partnerships discovering and engaging emerging technologies like those showcased today.”
Future Plans and Expansion
ICET is actively mentoring several startups from the Heritage Group’s current cohort, providing guidance on entrepreneurship and risk management. Said Jenkins, “This partnership is only the beginning, with plans to attract more startups to the region that align with local strategic interests.”
ICET is developing partnerships with local companies to attract strategically relevant startups, develop collaborations, and potentially establish a presence for those startups that give a competitive advantage to regional industry.