The Economic Development Corporation of Greensburg and Decatur County hosted its seventh workshop in the 2008 series Wednesday to discuss the potential of life science and medical equipment business development.

Dan Peterson, Vice President of Industry and Government Affairs with Cook Group, Inc., spoke about the 45-year-old business for which he works and the innovations that have been made in recent years. Cook began in 1963 as a business run out of a two-bedroom apartment in Bloomington and is now the largest medical company in the world that is not publicly traded.

Peterson expressed that it can be complicated to start a new business in the field but that constant advancements make collaborative efforts both important and necessary. EDC director Vicki Kellerman noted that Decatur County’s location between Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Bloomington as well as its relationship to Ivy Tech and IUPUI make it a promising place for the industry. With manufacturing facilities in the area, the transition could be made to diversify the growth opportunities of the city from its largely automotive base.

Indiana, Peterson noted, is well placed to be a powerhouse of medical equipment manufacturing and other life sciences pursuits because of the Lilly Endowment as well as industry organizations such as BioCrossroads, Indiana Health Industry Forum, Indiana Medical Device Manufacturers Council and Techpoint. The Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership also fosters opportunities in the field, he said.

Medical informatics is another area that is seeing significant growth, Peterson said. He pointed out that Decatur County Memorial Hospital has been ranked in the top 25 most connected hospitals, making it ready to take part in the growth of distance services and technologies that allow quality care at the bedside - or even at home.

Those in attendance, as well as Kellerman, thanked Peterson for his presentation, noting the workshop was informative and inspirational.

The next workshop of the EDCGDC will take place at 10 a.m. on October 29 at City Hall and will feature the Indiana University Vice President for Engagement, Bill Stephan.