Frerichs Visits Capitol Hill to Discuss Champaign-Urbana’s Growing Tech Sector

University of Illinois Research Park Director Laura Frerichs visited the US Capitol today to address staff from the Illinois Congressional delegation about the tech industry in Illinois. 

The Capitol Hill briefing on the state’s high-tech industry was organized by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. 

Frerichs discussed the growing technology sector in Champaign-Urbana at the Research Park, successful startup activity at EnterpriseWorks incubator, recruitment of students and internships, and a recent study completed by the EDA funded University Center at Illinois that profiled 18 incubators across the state of Illinois.

Topics discussed at the event included technology workforce development, immigration reform, crowdfunding, entrepreneurship and incubation, STEM education including software coding for K-12, digital manufacturing and community colleges, connecting veterans to tech, and patent reform.

Other speakers included: 1871, Orbitz, Google, Motorola Solution, Motorola Mobility, and TechAmerica.