INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb was expecting to hold serious talks that could lead to negotiations in bringing industry to Indiana during his recent first trade mission to Europe.
"But my jaw dropped a few times and my eyes were wide open when every single company that we were talking to, they're at fjve, 10, 15 years out how to make things lighter, harder, faster, cheaper, quieter, safer. ...
"That's a wake-up call, that we are competing against every other square inch on the planet and technology is ruling the day," he said.
In France and Hungary, he heard predictions of passengers using solar-powered planes, people traveling in flying cars and farmers calling Uber for a combine.
The governor said "one hurdle that we have to not remain in denial about ... is we have to have the workforce that is equipped and skilled to meet the demands of the 21st century"
Over seven days last month, he went to Budapest and Paris, attending a part of the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car race to promote the automotive industry in Indiana and the Paris Air Show to focus on aerospace industries in the Hoosier state.
Indiana is home to more than 80 aerospace firms, and the aviation and defense industries employ approximately 57,000 Hoosiers.
In Paris, Rolls-Royce Corp., which is headquartered in the United Kingdom and has been operating in Indiana, announced with the state and Purdue University a new $24 million partnership to establish the nation's most advanced turbine lab for compact gas turbine engines.
At the air show, Holcomb was among eight U.S. governors promoting their states.
"The story would have been had we not gone, had we missed it," he said, noting the 42 states that didn't attend the show. "Being able to shake hands and come up with a deal there on the flight deck with Purdue and Rolls-Royce; all these things point to more good news to come. But, again you've got to be there."
Hungary was selected because of its growing economy and similarities to Indiana including size, population and climate, Holcomb said.
Indiana became the first U.S. state to sign a memorandum of understanding with Hungary to encourage economic cooperation across government, universities, research institutions and the business community in order to advance innovation, foreign direct investment and trade.
"We didn't want to waste any time because of its growth pattern right now in central Europe," Holcomb said.
"I heard quite a few people say, 'Why Hungary?' Then when I was over there, I heard, 'Why Indiana?' But that's what relationships are all about, looking where you have some common needs and abilities to meet those needs."
Among those in the 20-member delegation with Holcomb and his wife were Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger; Indiana Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson; and Indiana House Minority Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City.
"That certainly lent a good bipartisan approach to economic development with the governor leading the delegation and that was noted a couple of times by the parties that we spoke with," Lanane said. "They noted our great universities, Purdue with engineering. Rose-Hulman, too. ... Workforce development is huge. ... That was a continuing theme and discussion we had with these companies. It's something we heard loud and clear and need to continue to work on."
As far as Holcomb's presentations, he added, "I'll be very complimentary to the governor. They were impressed that the governor was there leading the delegation. In some of these discussions, when you get into the military side of the aerospace industry, his background in military intelligence I think was helpful. He had a grasp of that."
Holcomb served as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy for six years, stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., and Lisbon, Portugal.