While Research Park provides Research Park companies and their employees access to resources like professional development workshops, recruiting assistance, mentorship, and networking events, our on-campus location also allows corporations and startups to access benefits offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Allied Status Benefits

Allied Agencies can receive specific benefits offered by the University of Illinois for being located on the Urbana-Champaign campus. Employees who work at Research Park and EnterpriseWorks companies can access campus resources. A few of these resources include access to:

• Campus recreational facilities at faculty and staff rates
• University of Illinois WiFi across the Urbana-Champaign campus
• Campus stores for companies to purchase business products and services at competitive prices
• University meeting facilities on the same terms as University units
• University cultural programs at faculty and staff rates
• Library affiliate status (benefits are outlined at this University of Illinois library website.)
• Facility use agreements to access University of Illinois laboratory equipment and facilities

To receive Allied Agency status, follow these steps:

1.  Complete the form below which will route the application to Research Park team. 
2. Once approved, the team will ask for a list of company employees. 
3. Once that list is received, we can begin the next process. 
4. NOTE: Allied Agency Status expires after three years. 

ALLIED AGENCY APPLICATION

Card Requests

With Allied Agency status, employees working at University of Illinois Research Park companies can begin accessing these resources by requesting a Net ID and  a Research Park card. A Net ID and Research Park card demonstrate Allied Agency status via employment at the Research Park, granting access to specific university-administered resources.

• Net ID: Grants access to the University of Illinois WiFi network, email, and other digital resources. 
• Research Park Card: Grants access to university-administered resources.
• Prox Card: Grants access to the building as well as designated labs and office space at EnterpriseWorks (this is only for employees of EnterpriseWorks affiliated companies).

SUBMIT A Net id/CARD REQUEST

1. Request a NetID and Research Park card: To get a Research Park card and NetID, please fill out the above form. Once approved by Research Park staff, it can take up to 5-7 business to receive a response. 
2. The email submitted with the request will receive details as how to use the netID and its associated email “yournetID”@illinois.edu.
3. Once you have received a NetId, visit the ID Center located at the Illini Union Bookstore to get a Research Park card and/or Prox Card. 

Facility Use Agreements

Companies can gain access to University of Illinois laboratory equipment and facilities by entering into Facilities Use Agreements and/or Technical Testing Agreements with the University.

The top requested research facilities include the clean-room labs within the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, various sophisticated lasers, and microscopy. Companies also may access compute resources through the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at advantageous pricing. 

Companies also have access to rapid prototyping and machine shop services through the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering. Clients pay on a cost-recovery basis (materials and labor only), so prices are extremely low compared to commercial service options.

Faculty and staff-founded companies located in EnterpriseWorks and the Research Park can set up interdepartmental agreements for technical testing or facilities use, resulting in substantial savings compared to external company use rates.

More Information

• For more information on other available campus resources, visit our campus resources page here.
• For details on the benefits of being an allied organization, please visit the Office of Corporate Relations website here.