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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Research Park

    Nora Lozar

    Events News Research Park

    AgTech Summit Registration Opens for 2026

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Nov. 3, 2025) —  Registration is now open for the 11th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit, presented by Bayer, taking place Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Illinois Conference Center in Champaign. The summit will feature fireside chats with Mike Graham, head of research and development, Crop Science at Bayer; Jerry Costello II, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture; and Kaiyu Guan, founder and executive chairman of HabiTerre. Panel discussions will explore AI applications in agriculture, sustainable aviation fuel, and emerging opportunities in the industry. Returning for its second year at the summit, the Startup World Cup Ag and Food Regional will give 10 entrepreneurs the chance to showcase their ideas at the AgTech Summit. The winner will move forward to the Grand F3ginale in October 2026 for a chance to win a $1 million investment. Additional speakers and session details will be announced in the coming weeks. The conference remains free thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. The summit is part of Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, which celebrates Champaign-Urbana’s robust AgTech ecosystem, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Parkland College, corporate innovation centers, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, and the iFAB Tech Hub. Other AgTech Week events include the Center for Digital Agriculture Conference, IBRL Precision Fermentation Workshops, the iFAB Biomanufacturing Summit, the Serra Ventures Investor Retreat, the CABBI Greenhouse Open House, and facility tours at IBRL, Boston Bioprocess and Earnest Agriculture. A full schedule of events can be found here. Nominations are also open for the Glen “GB” Brandt Prize, to be awarded at the summit. This $10,000 cash prize honors GB Brandt’s legacy by recognizing individuals who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit and advance innovation in business practices, crop-growing processes, or product development. A more detailed agenda for the event will be announced soon. Registration is available online. 

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    EarthSense Competes in Startup World Cup Grand Finale

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Oct. 21, 2025) — EarthSense, an EnterpriseWorks graduate based at the University of Illinois Research Park, competed in the Startup World Cup semifinals in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2025. Founded in 2016 by CEO Chinmay Soman and CTO Girish Chowdhary, EarthSense develops autonomous robots and artificial intelligence technology for agriculture. The company’s flagship products use machine vision and machine learning to collect crop health data and convert it into actionable insights for farmers, agronomists and crop breeders. Soman represented EarthSense at the competition after guiding the company through the Agriculture and Food Regional round held at the 10th Annual AgTech Summit earlier this year. Competing startups pitched their companies to a panel of investors for the chance to win the competition’s $1 million grand prize. The Startup World Cup is a global series of startup competitions and conferences organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures. The competition spans more than 100 regional events across 60-plus countries, with the field ultimately narrowing to a Grand Finale held in San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2025.

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    2001 S. First St. Tenant Directory

    UI Geological Survey

    UI State Geological Survey atrauth2@illinois.edu   2001 S First Street The work of the scientists and technicians of the Geological Survey has two major goals: To improve the quality of life for Illinois citizens by providing objective information essential for development of sound environmental policies and practices, and to strengthen the state’s economy by promoting wise development of and responsible use of the state’s land and its abundant mineral and energy resources. http://igs.illinois.edu

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    News Research Park

    W. Brooke Elliott, Shannon O’Hare and Ryan Coon Appointed to Research Park Board of Managers

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Sept. 18, 2025)  – W. Brooke Elliott, Dean of Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Shannon O’Hare, executive managing director at Cushman & Wakefield and Ryan Coon, an entrepreneur and venture capital investor, have joined the University of Illinois Research Park Board of Managers. Their appointments were approved by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its September 2025 meeting.  The Board of Managers, a public-private board, is the governing body of University of Illinois Research Park LLC, which assists the university in developing and operating research parks in support of its economic development mission.  Former BOM member Pat Daly’s term expired in 2025, creating a vacancy for a business representative. Upon that transition, the decision was made to expand the board (as per the existing by-laws). That meant adding one additional faculty member as well as one business representative, for a total of three in each category. Chancellor Charles L. Isbell Jr. nominated Dean Elliott as a faculty appointment with O’Hare and Coon filling the business representative roles. Elliott, the Josef and Margot Lakonishok Professor in Business and Dean of Gies College of Business, has been at the U. of I. since 2003, starting as a professor of accountancy. She now leads the College in developing a compelling, strategic vision while continuing to build upon its distinctive brand and identity. This includes assessing and expanding Gies Business’ portfolio of on-campus and online programs to strengthen its position as an innovative leader among the nation’s best business schools. Elliott is an expert in her field and has been cited in widely recognized press outlets including Fortune and The Wall Street Journal. Shannon O’Hare has more than 20 years of experience in economic development and financial incentive negotiation. O’Hare serves as the executive managing director at Cushman & Wakefield leading the Business Incentives Practice, representing clients across a wide range of industries including automotive, healthcare and retail. She also negotiates incentives for real estate development projects nationwide, and prides herself on her long-standing client relationships. Some of her previous positions were held at Deloitte & Touche LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP. O’Hare earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the Gies College of Business.  Ryan Coon is co-founder of Avail, a platform used to improve rental experiences for do-it-yourself landlords and renters. Avail was acquired by Realtor.com in December 2020, where Coon became CEO of Avail and Category Manager – Rentals at Realtor.com. Before co-founding Avail, Coon worked at BMO Capital Markets performing mergers and acquisitions as an investment banking associate. Coon graduated with honors from the Gies College of Business in 2007. He is active in the Chicago tech community and serves on the Board of Directors of La Casa Norte, an organization fighting youth and family homelessness in Chicago.  

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    Media Gallery

    Synchrony Ribbon Cutting 2025

    Synchrony Ribbon Cutting 2025 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.) and Synchrony (NYSE: SYF), a premier consumer financial services company, this week celebrated a major milestone: more than 400 U. of I. students have gained hands-on technology experience through Synchrony’s internship program. At a ribbon cutting ceremony for the expanded Synchrony Emerging Technology Center in Research Park, university leaders, Synchrony executives, and students marked the opening of the nearly 11,000 square foot reimagined space dedicated to advancing innovation and preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow.

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    Intern Events Media Gallery Social Events

    2025 Research Park Block Party

    Research Park Block Party 2025 The annual Research Park Block Party took place on Sept. 4, 2025. bringing together University of Illinois students and Research Park companies for an afternoon of networking, lawn games and pizza. The event creates connections between students and employers in a relaxed, informal setting. With nearly 900 attendees, Block Party connected students with professionals from across the Research Park community. Find the full list of companies who attended Block Party 2025 here. 

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    EnterpriseWorks Events News Research Park

    Pixo Relocates Headquarters to Research Park, Embraces Hybrid Future

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Sept. 4, 2025) – Custom software and web development firm Pixo has officially moved its headquarters to the first floor of the Atkins Building, Suite 106, within the University of Illinois Research Park technology hub. This strategic move positions Pixo in a vibrant innovation ecosystem, while reinforcing its commitment to a flexible, hybrid work model. Melinda Miller, CEO and co-owner of Pixo, expressed enthusiasm for the new location. “Our new office home is right in the midst of so much exciting technological innovation,” Miller said. “We look forward to connecting with the vibrant community here, tapping into that energy, and building new relationships with our neighbors at Research Park.” Founded in 1998 as “On the Job Consulting,” the woman-owned tech consultancy previously operated from second-story offices on Urbana’s West Main Street. Like many businesses, Pixo adapted to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the success and versatility of a hybrid approach for its diverse team of developers, designers, and strategists, the company decided to adopt this model permanently. While Pixo continues to have a strong presence in Central Illinois, its team members are now distributed throughout the United States, serving clients coast-to-coast. “Despite being a mostly remote agency, maintaining a physical presence in Champaign-Urbana is incredibly important to us,” Miller emphasized. “We have deep roots here and a rich history tied to the University of Illinois, the agricultural economy, and the broader community.”  “As a ‘people-first’ company, we also wanted to preserve the ability to gather in person—both with clients and with each other,” Miller added. “We’re excited to leverage Research Park’s excellent amenities, including beautiful and well-equipped spaces for client meetings, social gatherings, and team celebrations.” “Research Park and Pixo have a long history of partnership across domains–from working together on website projects, to working together on agtech cluster building,” said Laura Weisskopf Bleill, Director of External Engagement and Communications at Research Park. “We are thrilled to see the team locate a footprint in our on-campus tech hub, where small businesses, startups, and corporate innovation thrives together as one ecosystem.” About Pixo: Pixo is a custom software and web development firm specializing in creating innovative digital solutions. Founded in 1998, the woman-owned consultancy serves clients across the United States, providing expertise in areas including digital accessibility, artificial intelligence, content strategy, and web/software development. Pixo is committed to a people-first approach, fostering a collaborative environment for its distributed team and strong relationships with its clients and community. For more information, visit pixotech.com. Contact: info@pixotech.com  217-344-0444 pixotech.com Pixo’s office: Atkins Building, Research Park 1800 S. Oak St. Suite 106 Champaign, IL 61820

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    2021 S. First St. Sustainability Tenant Directory University Affiliates

    Illinois State Geological Survey

    Illinois State Geological Survey isgs.illinois.edu 217-333-4747 2021 S. First St. Champaign, IL  The Illinois State Geological Survey supports the environmental quality, economic development, and public safety of Illinois by providing accurate, objective earth science research and information. ISGS staff conduct basic and applied research in geology, compile geologic maps, gather and manage Illinois’ geological data, and provide information about the state’s geology and mineral resources to industry, municipalities and governement agencies, and the public.  isgs.illinois.edu Connect with ISGS Facebook.com/ILGeoSurvey/ x.com/ILGeoSurvey Linkedin.com/company/illinois-state-geological-survey/

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