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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Research Park

    Kaleb Medina

    News

    Caterpillar Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Champaign, Illinois (Sept. 3, 2024) – Caterpillar Inc. today marked a significant milestone at the University of Illinois Research Park – 25 years of the Champaign Innovation Center. Caterpillar first opened an office at the Urbana-Champaign campus in 1999 to work with Caterpillar product groups, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and University departments. Since that time, the Champaign Innovation Center has developed into a leading engineering hub for virtual product development, advanced simulation, data analytics and design solutions, while simultaneously contributing to Caterpillar’s recruiting efforts and talent pipeline building. “We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Research Park,” said Otto Breitschwerdt, Caterpillar Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President. “The Champaign Innovation Center is a place where academia and industry meet, and these diverse perspectives result in the development of new and exciting technologies.” Caterpillar has engaged students across campus to tackle the company’s core innovation challenges, providing experiential learning opportunities through an apprenticeship approach. Students learn and grow alongside full-time Caterpillar professionals in Champaign and on site at other company locations. The model has provided a blueprint replicated by many other corporate innovation centers at Research Park. “This milestone anniversary signifies the deeply intentional and impactful relationship between Caterpillar and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, truly one of our cornerstone industry partners,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “As we look ahead to the future of innovation, we are confident that, together, we can provide opportunities for the next generation of talent and technology.”The company marked the anniversary with a celebration at its Research Park offices, bringing back past interns and company alumni. About Caterpillar Inc. With 2023 sales and revenues of $67.1 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html. About the Research Park at the University of Illinois The Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub that cultivates startups and advances corporate innovation. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing both students and full-time technology professionals. Learn more on the Research Park website. 

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Hypercell Technologies Wins 2024 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize 

    Champaign, Illinois (March 5, 2024) – Hypercell Technologies, a startup company developing new methods to control infectious diseases, has been named the 2024 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize winner. The award, generously funded by a family of University of Illinois alumni, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations.  The Research Park and the Moore family presented the award to Hypercell’s  CEO Bruno Jactel during the 2024 AgTech Innovation Summit at the Illinois Conference Center on Tuesday, March 5. The company operates out of an office at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the Research Park.  Hypercell Technologies has developed novel biological solutions to control infectious diseases in production animals that cause major economic losses and present potential threats to human health. The Hypercell approach revolutionizes the control of infectious diseases by bringing two innovative technologies: rapid, easy-to-use molecular diagnostics on the farm and biotherapeutic treatments to reduce the spread of a virus. Hypercell believes the best chance to stop a future pandemic in humans is to proactively control viruses in animal reservoirs. Dr. Alex Prokup, Senior Scientist at Hypercell says, “The first lab for Hypercell started here at the University in this incubator at EnterpriseWorks, and it’s really been a great experience for us. We have a lot of the University resources in terms of hiring our first lab technician, as well as getting supplies from the local store rooms and collaborating with some of the researchers on campus.” The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize’s goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in developing new innovative technologies that may lead to increased productivity and efficiency in farming, or to create new agricultural opportunities, including new processes, crops, and food production systems.  Hypercell’s story with regard to this award was also featured in a recent News-Gazette article. Previous Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund Winners Include:  HarvestIQ, formerly known as Farmers Risk, 2023 FrostDefense Envirotech, 2022 Epivara, 2021 Habiterre (formerly Aspiring Universe), 2020 TellTail, 2019 EarthSense, 2018 Soil Diagnostics, 2017  About the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize  The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s technology incubator. The award honors the legacy of Edwin E. Moore (1924), who graduated from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and began farming in Will County. Throughout his agricultural career, he and his wife, Iva, used innovative farming practices for crop production and livestock management. Two of their four children became farmers, Edwin and Thomas (1953, College of Agriculture), and continued use of innovative farm practices. Subsequent generations of Edwin Moore’s family have continued to pursue farming and ag-related careers capturing the same innovative spirit.  About the Research Park at the University of Illinois  The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within the Research Park, there are over 100 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information can be found on the Research Park website.

    Hypercell Technologies Wins 2024 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize  Read Post »

    Events News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Eric Miller Awarded 2023 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism

    Champaign, Illinois (March 7, 2023) — Eric Miller has been named the recipient of this year’s Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism, an award that honors a grower/producer/farmer who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices. Miller farms 400 acres in Piatt County, where he works extensively with University of Illinois researchers. “Eric is passionate about conserving and efficiently using the resources that make Illinois agriculture so productive and envied. He’s not only given University of Illinois staff access to his entire farm, but for a sufficient period that allows longitudinal studies. This scale and timeframe help identify much more predictable and repeatable ‘proof of concept’ outcomes,” said his nominator, Daniel Schaefer, Director of Nutrient Stewardship at the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association. The award was announced at the 2023 AgTech Innovation Summit, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. Karl Barnhart, Chief Marketing Officer of BRANDT, presented the award to Miller. “Eric is exactly the kind of grower we envisioned that the GB Prize could support when we established it three years ago,” said Barnhart. “Just like Glen Brandt, Eric is a real entrepreneur in the field of production agriculture. On behalf of The BRANDT Foundation, congratulations, Eric.” Miller said he hopes partner with BRANDT as he deploys the award’s $10,000 prize. He recently entered an agreement to expand his farm’s facilities Miller has assisted the University of Illinois with large-scale on-farm research since 2014. During the past eight years, Miller has transitioned his Central Illinois farm into a dedicated crop production improvement site. He performs field operations and collects data per the requirements of projects that are assigned to the farm. The goal is to develop strategies that simultaneously improve yield, environmental and economic outcomes. This crop improvement site is helping to define the future of Illinois agriculture. Some examples of testing that is taking place at the site include long-term monitoring of soil carbon, greenhouse gas emissions, various soil health metrics and yield. The Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism was established in 2021 in honor of Glen “GB” Brandt, a legendary figure in the field of Illinois agriculture, who passed away in late 2020. The BRANDT Foundation partnered with the University of Illinois to provide the winner a $10,000 prize. Previous Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism winners include: Matt Riggs, 2022 Will Glazik, 2021 About the BRANDT Foundation  The BRANDT Foundation was established in 2012 as a philanthropic extension of BRANDT, Inc. The Brandt family has always stood with their communities and as their company grew, so did the opportunities to give back. The BRANDT Foundation offers donations, grants, and support to the charities, organizations, and communities that reside in the same area of the company; geographically and industry-related. About the AgTech Innovation Summit  The AgTech Innovation Summit is an interactive conference where participants learn and share knowledge about the current state of agtech and get a looking into the future through dynamic panels, inspiring keynote presentations, and networking opportunities. It is produced by the University of Illinois Research Park in partnership with the College of ACES and the Office of Corporate Relations. One of the premier AgTech hubs in the nation, Champaign-Urbana is uniquely positioned to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and industry for learning, networking, and advancing this sector.

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    News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Farmers Risk Awarded 2023 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize 

    Champaign, Illinois (March 8, 2023) – Farmers Risk, a startup company that is developing tools for farmers to better understand their risk management strategies, has been named the 2023 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize winner. The award, generously funded by a family of University of Illinois alumni, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations.  The Research Park and the Moore family together presented the award to Farmers Risk co-founder Eric Barnard during the 2023 AgTech Innovation Summit at the Illinois Conference Center in Champaign, Illinois.  The company operates out of an office at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the Research Park.  Farmers Risk is working to create a variety of software tools that allow farmers to easily monitor their risk, trade with confidence and be aware of all of their possible business options. The goal of the startup is to give farmers more access to data that can help improve their own outcomes and make more profitable decisions. Its analytical tools help farmers more effectively market their grain, buy crop insurance, hedge their crops as well as improve their overall revenue decision-making. These revolutionary tools are helping to innovate the future of agtech, and are giving farmers the tools they need to make the right decisions in their industry.   The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize’s goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in the development of new innovative technologies that may lead to increased productivity and/or efficiency in farming, or to create new agricultural opportunities, including new processes, new crops, and new food production systems.  Previous Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund winners include:  FrostDefense Envirotech, 2022 Epivara, 2021 Habiterre (formerly Aspiring Universe), 2020 TellTail, 2019 EarthSense, 2018 Soil Diagnostics, 2017  For more information about Farmers Risk, visit its website here.  About the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize  The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s technology incubator. The award honors the legacy of Edwin E. Moore (1924), who graduated from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and began farming in Will County. Throughout his agricultural career, he and his wife, Iva, used innovative farming practices for both crop production and livestock management. Two of their four children became farmers, Edwin and Thomas (1953, College of Agriculture), and continued use of innovative farm practices. Subsequent generations of Edwin Moore’s family have continued to pursue farming and ag related careers capturing the same innovative spirit.  About the Research Park at the University of Illinois  The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu.  

    Farmers Risk Awarded 2023 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize  Read Post »

    Conferences Media Gallery

    2022 AgTech Summit

    On Wednesday, March 9, the University of Illinois Research Park hosted the 2022 AgTech Summit in partnership with the University and other University departments at the Colonnades Club. The summit highlighted new innovations and challenges facing the AgTech industry. Attendees came to the summit to learn about the future of agriculture and how technology plays a role in agriculture. AgTech startups such as EarthSense and  FrostDefense also participated in this event.

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    FrostDefense Awarded 2022 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize

    Champaign, Illinois (March 10, 2022) – FrostDefense Envirotech Inc., a startup company developing technological solutions to prevent frost damage at vineyards, is the recipient of the 2022 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize. The award, generously funded by a family of University of Illinois alumni, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations. The Research Park together with the Moore family presented the award to FrostDefense founder Manfredo Seufferheld and vice president Gabriel Burks during the 2022 AgTech Innovation Summit at the Colonnades Club at Memorial Stadium. The company’s scientists work out of a lab and office at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the Research Park. FrostDefense Envirotech Inc. is a National Science Foundation-funded startup company. The team develops innovative, environmentally friendly, and low-cost technological solutions to prevent frost damage for vineyards. They also work to make labor management and mechanized farm operations more efficient. Its predictive analytic system is the foundation for continued innovation in creating tools and services to support decision-making to adapt to growing practices and sustainability. The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize’s goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in the development of new innovative technologies that may lead to increased productivity and/or efficiency in farming, or to create new agricultural opportunities, including new processes, new crops, and new food production systems. Previous Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund winners include:Epivara, 2021Habiterre (formerly Aspiring Universe), 2020TellTail, 2019EarthSense, 2018Soil Diagnostics, 2017 For more information about Frost Defense, visit its website here. About the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois  Urbana-Champaign’s technology incubator. The award honors the legacy of Edwin E. Moore (1924), who graduated from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and began farming in Will County. Throughout his agricultural career, he and his wife, Iva, used innovative farming practices for both crop production and livestock management. Two of their four children became farmers, Edwin and Thomas (1953, College of Agriculture), and continued use of innovative farm practices. Subsequent generations of Edwin Moore’s family have continued to pursue farming and ag related careers capturing the same innovative spirit. About the Research Park at the University of Illinois The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu. 

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    Community News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Matt Riggs Wins 2022 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism

    Champaign, Illinois (March 10, 2022) —  Matt Riggs of Riggs Beer Company has been named the recipient of this year’s Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism, an award that honors a grower/producer/farmer who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices.  Riggs’ nomination highlighted these qualities as a farmer, brewery owner, and entrepreneur. “Faced with the challenge of preserving his family’s 142 year old farming legacy, Matt successfully created a brand new, high-margin market,” wrote Riggs’ nominator, Prof. Adam Davis, a faculty member in the department of Crop Sciences. “Since founding his brewery in 2016, his farm and brewery have vertically integrated over 155,000 pounds of brewing grain, making them the Midwest’s #1 volume “grain to glass” brewery.” The award was announced at the 2022 AgTech Innovation Summit, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. It was presented to Riggs by Karl Barnhart, Chief Marketing Officer of BRANDT.  Riggs said he will use the award’s $10,000 prize to buy the farm its own grain cleaner, equipment the farm has either contracted or leased previously. “The past two years have reinforced the importance of being both flexible and lean. Small farms, and small businesses in general, can remain competitive if they are able to rapidly adapt to change. They can also compete against larger competitors if they have extremely limited fixed costs,” said Riggs. Matt graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Technical System Management in 2006. His company supports the University’s crop science program by purchasing specialty, University-licensed wheat and corn seed. His company is currently donating the use of farmland for a small brewing grains test plot located at his brewery in Urbana.  Learn more about Riggs Beer Company here. The Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism was established in 2021 in honor of Glen “GB” Brandt, a legendary figure in the field of Illinois agriculture, who passed away in late 2020. The BRANDT Foundation partnered with the University of Illinois to provide the winner a $10,000 prize. The award’s first winner was Will Glazik, a farmer in Paxton.  About The BRANDT Foundation  The BRANDT Foundation was established in 2012 as a philanthropic extension of BRANDT, Inc. The Brandt family has always stood with their communities and as their company grew, so did the opportunities to give back. The BRANDT Foundation offers donations, grants, and support to the charities, organizations, and communities that reside in the same area of the company; geographically and industry-related.  About the AgTech Innovation Summit  The AgTech Innovation Summit is an interactive conference where participants learn and share knowledge about the current state of agtech and get a looking into the future through dynamic panels, inspiring keynote presentations, and networking opportunities. It is produced by the University of Illinois Research Park in partnership with the College of ACES and the Office of Corporate Relations. One of the premier AgTech hubs in the nation, Champaign-Urbana is uniquely positioned to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and industry for learning, networking, and advancing this sector. 

    Matt Riggs Wins 2022 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism Read Post »

    Media Gallery

    2021 Intern Awards

    The Research Park gathered on National Intern Day (July 29, 2021) to celebrate the most outstanding interns across its 120+ companies at the 15th annual Intern Awards, the longest-running event in the Research Park. Learn more about the winners.

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