Cummins wins Large Enterprise of the Year Mira Award
Fortune 500 corporation Cummins won the Large Enterprise of the Year award during TechPoint’s 20th annual Mira Awards gala honoring the best of tech in Indiana. Cummins designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products.
As the tech community in Indiana has grown and matured, greater engagement with and visibility into the once overlooked tech-enabled businesses has opened the floodgates of discovery—Indiana’s manufacturers and a multitude of other non-tech core businesses are innovation powerhouses. These large enterprises are developing and exporting new technological advances all over the world, and one of the most deserving and celebrated is Columbus, Ind., headquartered Cummins engine and power systems company.
With more than 1,500 tech-skilled employees reporting to CIO Sherry Aaholm, Cummins represents one of the largest global tech operations headquartered within the state. The list of 2018 tech-related advancements alone—resulting from R&D investments of $734 million in 2017 and $616 million in 2016—include in-market Internet of Things applications like over-the-air data extraction, real-time filtration monitoring, remote monitoring of engine health, testing and validation of next generation battery systems, the lightest-ever heavy duty engine, an advanced suite of plug-in hybrid electric powertrain solutions, and new diesel tech that delivers near-zero emissions. Remarkably, this is only a partial list.
The Mira Awards judges were particularly impressed by Cummins’ focus and dedication to developing and implementing data-enabled services through the Digital Accelerator team that have led to numerous smart connected products. Outside of the company’s obvious successful financial performance ($23 billion in revenue last year), it’s Cummins’ commitment to community improvement and diversity and inclusion at all of its global locations that leaves a lasting impression.
They have supported talent programs such as Xtern, School to Work Program for Cybersecurity, and iDEW (Informatics Diversity Enhanced Workforce at IUPUI); participated in recruiting events such as BDPA (Black Data Processing Associates), HENAAC (Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference) and others; and have launched diversity programs such as the Cummins Powers Women program that focuses its work on areas where barriers exist to the advancement of girls and women.
TechPoint, the nonprofit, industry-led growth accelerator for Indiana’s tech ecosystem, honored the successes and innovation of Indiana people, places, companies and products at the JW Marriott Indianapolis during the 20th annual Mira Awards gala presented by Angie’s List, Infosys, and Salesforce. With a sold-out crowd of 1,400 attendees—up another 100 from last year—this was the largest Mira Awards in the program’s 20-year history.
Only a handful of the 2019 nominees existed as companies 20 years ago, and 82 percent were founded in just the past 10 years. Similar to the rapid adoption of the iPhone starting a decade ago and streaming services today, tech businesses in Indiana have grown from a few pioneers to a fast growing, vibrant industry that is a key driver of job growth and a critical part of the state’s economic success story.
A total of 14 award winners and honorees were chosen from the 109 outstanding people, places companies and products that were selected as nominees for their achievements during the 2018 calendar year. Fifty-two independent, volunteer judges spent more than 850 total hours evaluating applications, interviewing nominees, and selecting this year’s winners. Judges included company founders, CEOs and presidents, CTOs, CIOs, and other subject matter experts.
The Mira Awards are named after the first of the brilliant variable stars to be discovered – the Mira Star. It is also the Latin root meaning “worthy of admiration, wonderful, marvelous.” The awards represent the best of tech in Indiana each year.
