CHAMPAIGN, IL – The John Deere Technology Innovation Center (JDTIC) located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Research Park will double in size to accommodate growth and further leverage the skills and knowledge of faculty and students in the areas of agriculture, business, engineering, and information technology. The Center employs students and full time professionals to advance innovation, research, and information technology for John Deere. “Innovation is at the core of what John Deere has stood for in its entire 176-year history,” said John Reid, director of product technology and innovation. “Our customers depend on Deere to develop innovative solutions that enhance their productivity. Our work with strategic university partners, such as the University of Illinois, helps us deliver these integrated solutions for John Deere customers.” Through the technology innovation center and the relationship with the University of Illinois, Deere gains access to students and academic experts from a broad range of domain areas, including engineering, agronomy, computer science, statistics, industrial design, psychology and information library sciences. Klaus Hoehn, vice president of advanced technology and engineering at Deere, said, “Expanding the technology innovation facility at the University of Illinois enhances John Deere’s capability to lead innovation efforts in technology and engineering. In addition, this effort helps John Deere attract highly skilled talent from a leading university.” The expansion provides the needed space to further integrate undergraduate and graduate students working on John Deere’s technology efforts. It embraces an agile working environment to increase collaboration and project team flexibility. Through this investment, Deere can enhance its focus on greater innovation in the areas of information technology, user experience, advanced algorithm science, mobile solutions, agronomy, and high performing computing. “From their first days in the Research Park, John Deere has been a valued partner to the students and faculty the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a catalyst for ongoing social and economic development in the local community. Whether through their employment of our students or their engagement with our researchers, their presence here has made Illinois a more productive university and a more attractive home for new staff and faculty. We are pleased to see this relationship grow even stronger with this expansion of the John Deere Technology Innovation Center (JDTIC) at our Research Park,” said Chancellor Phyllis Wise. The John Deere Technology Innovation Center in Champaign delivers customer- centered solutions in the agriculture production system through focused research, accelerated incubation, and differentiated experience. Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land – those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at www.JohnDeere.com. Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. Located on campus, the Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations.
