The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has received several high-profile honors in recent years for supporting entrepreneurship, and facilitating innovation.
“12 Business Incubators Changing the World,” Forbes, 2013: “The facility is unique in that it combines established firms and startups under one roof…The companies here employ more than 400 student interns.”
“3 College-Town Incubators to Watch,” Inc. Magazine 2013: “EnterpriseWorks has nurtured 145 businesses, many in IT and biotech, since its founding 10 years ago. In addition to offering entrepreneurs legal assistanceand payroll services, the incubator hosts six entrepreneurs-in-residence and an industrial-designer-in-residence to help start-ups bring their products to life.”
AURP Most Outstanding Research Park of the Year, 2011 (news release): “Over the last 10 years, the Research Park has had a significant impact on its community by incubating new startups, attracting large corporations to the region and creating jobs.”
“Top 10 Start-Up Incubator to Watch,” Inc.com, 2011:”Part of the University of Illinois’s Research Park, EnterpriseWorks hosts early-stage tech firms, and has had particular success with information and biotechnology companies. For tech firms that need some time to get their business in order, a residency at EnterpriseWorks provides office and lab space, meetings with the incubator’s three entrepreneurs in residence, and the option to hire student employees from the University of Illinois’s student body.”
“Top Technology Incubators Changing the World,” Forbes.com, 2010: “This facility is unique in that it combines established firms and start-ups under one roof.”