David Roberts

David Roberts is the Chief Executive Officer of the Applied Research Institute, a nonprofit driving collaboration and diversity at the intersection of innovation, technology, and national security and facilitating groundbreaking economic development from America’s Heartland in disruptive sectors. 

ARI has secured line of sight to hundreds of millions in federal support since Dave took the helm, marking it as the catalyst of regional transformation that the State intended. This includes securing a commitment of over $73 million from the Department of Defense for the development of the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Hub. Furthermore, the Heartland BioWorks Technology Hub was funded at roughly $51 million to be a beacon of biotech advancement, recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration as one of the Regional Technology Hubs that Sen. Todd Young envisioned as he championed enabling bipartisan legislation. Additionally, Dave’s collaborative approach has been central to the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) receiving the designation as a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub by the U.S. Department of Energy. These initiatives place Indiana as a leader enabling a secure and prosperous future for our nation. 

Having previously held the mantle of Indiana’s Chief Innovation Officer, Dave oversaw the state’s transformative $1 billion innovation and entrepreneurship blueprint in 2017. This strategy has since catalyzed an ecosystem where creativity and technological advancement thrive, propelling Indiana to new heights. 
 

Dave has led pioneering lithium-ion battery companies, navigating the intricacies of both public-private partnerships and PE-backed ventures, as well as providing strategic patent and legal counsel at Caterpillar, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction and mining equipment. His technical acumen was honed early on as an engineer at Lockheed Martin, where he contributed to the defense sector’s technological advancements. 
 

Dave provides strategic guidance as a board member of both domestic and international organizations, where his insights on innovation and organizational leadership continue to drive progressive change. Dave continues to be licensed to practice law across Indiana, Missouri, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.