Nora Lozar

The Illinois Innovation Index, published by the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, has been researching innovation activity since 2013 in order to determine the standing of technology startup entrepreneurship in Illinois. Among their overall findings of increased active startups, capital raised, and NSF I-Corps participation, the University of Illinois Research Park is mentioned throughout the Index in a diverse variety of areas. The EnterpriseWorks Incubator, our established entrepreneurial hub, as well as the new Illinois University Incubator, which is the product of a new Illinois grant, work to support startup activity in both Champaign-Urbana and across the state. Research Park is also a member of the I-Corps Midwest Node, a collaboration among Midwest universities that aims to provide additional resources to new entrepreneurs. Keeping with this theme of partnerships, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago are also collaborating on a new Hyde Park innovation facility, which would, “develop and commercialize groundbreaking technology.” Two Research Park EnterpriseWorks startups, Amber Agriculture and OceanComm, are spotlighted in the Index for their successful use of entrepreneurial resources. Both startups won prizes at the Cozad New Venture Competition, as well as participated in the NSF I-Corps program. Amber Agriculture received funding from IllinoisVENTURES, a venture capitalist firm that, “provides proof-of-concept funding as well as seed and venture capital for University of Illinois companies.” OceanComm has gained funding support from SBIR grants. The Research Park AWARE program is praised for taking on issues of underrepresentation of women and minorities in entrepreneurship. AWARE works directly with these underrepresented entrepreneurs to provide mentorship, entrepreneurs-in-residence, proof-of-concept grants, and events. To access the full Illinois Innovation Index, click here.

Experts at the intersection of agriculture and technology will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 28 during the third annual Agriculture Technology Innovation Summit hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. The Agriculture Technology Innovation Summit provides attendees a look at cutting-edge trends and insights into this ever-evolving field. It features panelist from across the AgTech ecosystem, from innovators to academics, leading ag corporations to growers, investors and startups. Speakers include the founder of Amber Agriculture, named the top startup of the 2017 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) by Engadget. Panels include:– The Landscape of Investment in AgTech– Plan, Plant, Spray, Harvest, Till: Growers Talk Back– Disruptive AgTech Startups– IoT (Internet of Things) and the Future of Farming– Behind the Curtain: How Companies Evaluate Technology The complete agenda is available online HERE. Attendees also include AgTech startups from all over the Midwest, many of whom are participating in the Midwest I-Corps Node Industry Connect program. The event will take place at the I-Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign. While full-day registration is closed, walk-ins will be accepted starting with the panel at 1:30 p.m. The AgTech Innovation Summit is programmed by the University of Illinois Research Park in partnership with the Office of Corporate Relations and College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. It also has generous sponsorship from John Deere Technology Innovation Center. For more information, contact Laura Bleill, lwbleill@illinois.edu.

If counted as a company, the Research Park is now the third largest employer in the county, falling just behind Carle Hospital and the University of Illinois, The News-Gazette reported in its Sunday edition. Employment at the park is up 17 percent since 2016, with more than 2,000 employees at the numerous companies the park is home to. “In the last five years, the Research Park grew at a faster clip than ever before with new building after new building,” said Research Park Director, Laura Frerichs. The Fox/Atkins Mixed Use building, which was just completed right before the new year in December, is already 75 percent full, with recent grand openings of Monsanto, Brunswick, and Synchrony Financial filling up the space, with more companies to join. Additionally, the Mixed Use buidling will be the first Research Park building to offer retail spaces. As the Research Park grows, organizers are looking to make the park more than just an office park, with restaurants and shopping available to do outside of work, which would provide food options right in the park to employees, such as University students who might not have a car. According to Frerichs, while the park doesn’t know who these retailers will be yet, there are local restaurants who are looking at the park as an additional location to serve their customers. The Research Park continues to expand so quickly, it is facing some growing pains. The feed mill, a University research facility, is located a block south from the I Hotel and Conference Center, which is not an ideal location for the expanding park. However, Research Park developer, Peter Fox, has hired an engineering consultant to begin working on a plan that would build a new feed mill, to be located near Curtis Road and Race Street in Urbana. Read this full story at the News-Gazette.