South Bend’s emergence as a new technology hub began to
materialize with the agreement to establish Innovation Park at Notre Dame, as well as Ignition Park, which would serve as a "landing zone" for businesses emanating from Innovation Park.

South Bend's tech future gained momentum in the spring of 2008 when the Semiconductor Research Corporation’s Nanoelectronics Research Initiative selected the University of Notre Dame in South Bend as the site for one of its four research consortia at leading
universities in America.  Named the Midwest  Institute for
Nanoelectronics Discovery (MIND), the consortium’s unique
mission is to discover and develop nanoscale computing
devices that will result in circuits and systems that will be
faster, smaller and more powerful than those currently used
in cell phones, computers and other electronic systems, in a
nanoelectronics industry that the National Science Foundation
estimates will be worth a trillion dollars by 2015.

Recognizing the importance of MIND as transformational to
the economy of the city and its surrounding region, this city on
a bend in the river committed $50 million to support the
commercialization of the results of MIND, cleared and
developed Ignition Park to house MIND-inspired
nanoelectronic businesses and other tech start-ups, and
worked in close cooperation with Notre Dame to develop
Innovation Park at Notre Dame on the border of the city and
the university.  NRI leaders have lauded South Bend’s
response to the MIND initiative.

“Innovation Park, Ignition Park and MIND will greatly
accelerate our economy and attract other innovative
organizations to our city,” predicts South Bend Mayor
Stephen J. Luecke.

Another advantage that contributes to South Bend’s emerging
tech-based economy is the St. Joe Valley Metronet – a lightning-fast network of dark fiber optic cable that is more than 50 miles long - and growing.  South Bend's Metronet provides a high-speed data transfer infrastructure with virtually unlimited bandwidth, and lets customers choose any carrier offering its services in the area.  As a result, Metronet provides its users considerable flexibility, cost savings and security.  Metronet is situated in the largest concentration of long-haul carriers in the Midwest.  And most importantly, it positions this region for high-tech economic development on a level playing field with major U.S. cities.