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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Research Park

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    Community EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Research Park Named a Top Incubator and Accelerator

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Aug. 21, 2026) —The University of Illinois Research Park and EnterpriseWorks incubator have been recognized by TIME and Statista as one of America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026. The inaugural ranking identifies the most outstanding hubs offering incubator and accelerator programs in the United States, evaluating each on track record, peer recommendations from industry experts, and measurable outcomes for the founders they serve. The Research Park was recognized as one of 13 incubators and accelerators operated by a university in the United States and among six incubators designated by TIME in the State of Illinois. EnterpriseWorks is a startup incubator located in the University of Illinois Research Park. It supports early-stage scientific and tech ventures affiliated with the university, including faculty and graduate student-founded teams, as well as other deep tech companies that have located their business at the Research Park for its support services. The incubator has 43,000 square feet of space and hosts 50 tenant companies at time. More than 400 startup companies have incubated at EnterpriseWorks in the Research Park in Champaign, IL since its opening. The companies have collectively raised over $1.6 billion in venture capital and secured more than $216 million in SBIR/STTR awards. The State of Illinois provided funding to build EnterpriseWorks, the early-stage tech firm business incubator in 2003, and it has been fully leased since it opened to companies that are accepted continuously. It is a significant bridge between research at the university and commercialization of technology by faculty, staff, and students. EnterpriseWorks is owned and operated by the University of Illinois as part of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. EnterpriseWorks offers furnished offices and wet labs with advanced equipment, shared equipment labs, and a maker lab. Amenities include free parking, EV charging, kitchen, conference rooms, shower, mail services, and phone booths. LabWorks is an aligned growth-stage wet lab incubation facility in the Research Park funded by the Rebuild Illinois Wet Lab Capital Program. It offers turn-key labs for life sciences, short-term leases for industry partners, and access to shared equipment and support services. The incubator provides extensive support programs such as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR), Designer-in-Residence, SBIR/STTR grant assistance through the IL FAST Center, Student Shared Services, and the Catapult New Venture Program. It also hosts events like Startup Café, CEO Roundtables, and workshops on topics like investment due diligence, intellectual property, and pricing strategies. In total the Research Park hosts more than 200 events annually with more than 10,000 participants, creating a vibrant technology hub in Champaign, IL. The Research Park has plans to expand its incubation capacity with a new EnterpriseWorks 2.0 (EW 2.0) growth stage incubator support with state capital, including grant funding awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce (DCEO) Tech Incubator Enhancement Grant (TIEG) and funding as part of the IFAB Tech Hub. EW 2.0 is designed to be a new incubator (adjacent to EnterpriseWorks) to accommodate startup companies beyond the current incubator with an emphasis on laboratory, manufacturing, and office suites for scaling companies. This facility would include a combination of company suites along with shared collaboration space that continues to engage the Research Park community. ###

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    Community Features News Research Park

    New Podcast Episode: Dr. Susan Martinis

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Aug. 24, 2026) — Dr. Susan Martinis, Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joined the Innovations at Research Park podcast to discuss what makes Illinois a hub for innovation, sharing lessons from her own path from biochemist to biotech entrepreneur and university leader. Dr. Martinis oversees a research and innovation portfolio spanning ten interdisciplinary campus institutes, corporate engagement, the Research Park and more. She traced that collaborative culture back to her graduate school years, when the university opened the Beckman Institute. “I believe that we have a unique culture on our campus. It’s part of our DNA, and I’m fortunate to be trained in interdisciplinary work,” Martinis said, noting the campus has since built policies, including tenure-process changes, that make it easier for junior faculty to pursue team science without being penalized. Before returning to academia, Martinis dedicated three years as one of the first employees at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, a biotech startup co-founded by Paul Schimmel in Cambridge’s Kendall Square. Reflecting on the career change to the startup industry, she explained that the experience taught her to be resourceful and resilient. “When you jump in, jump in with both feet. Use your head, use your interpersonal skills and learn from those around you,” Martinis said, offering advice to researchers considering a similar industry change. To hear the full conversation with Dr. Susan Martinis, listen to the Innovations at Research Park podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred podcast network. The Innovations at Research Park podcast highlights Champaign’s thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture. It is hosted by Tanmay Shah, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus.  Is there something you want to know about Research Park? Do you have an idea for a guest for the show or a story we should pursue? Contact Kaleb Medina at kmedin22@illinois.edu ###  About Research Park at the University of Illinois Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park, there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu. 

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    Community Media Mentions News Research Park

    Riverside Research Unveils New Office and Research Location in Research Park

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (July 29, 2026)  – Riverside Research, a national security nonprofit, opened a new location in the University of Illinois Research Park in Champaign, IL, on July 15, 2026. Headquartered in Fairfax, VA, near the nation’s capital, Riverside Research’s new location echoes the company’s foundational roots in academia and its current mission of partnering with local universities and capturing top talent in the fields of physics, electrical engineering, computer science, and computer engineering. Located at 2021 S. 1st Street, Riverside Research occupies a 2,800-square-foot office supporting ten employees. This move relocates Riverside Research employees from its previous Champaign office on Fox Drive (where it has been located since 2010) directly onto the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s campus along with other companies and researchers in the innovation community This location supports existing contracts for the company, with a focus on its DC to Daylight full-wave computational electromagnetics competency, fueling its independent research and development (IRAD) growth in the areas of software development, physics-based modeling and simulation, electromagnetics, and radar systems. Riverside Research’s current and historical focus on independent research, supporting the mission focus of the Department of War (DOW). “Opening our new location in Research Park is an incredible milestone for Riverside Research,” said Mary Barefoot, Senior Vice President of Business Operations at Riverside Research. “Being embedded directly within the University of Illinois’ thriving research ecosystem gives us unparalleled access to top-tier talent, groundbreaking ideas, and a community that shares our passion for innovation. We’re excited to be here and to expand our collaboration with the university as we continue advancing our mission.” The new office at the Research Park included an $80,000 office renovation to house Riverside Research staff, and the company is investing over $250,000 over the 3-year lease term. Riverside Research is proud to be further embedded in the university’s community, contributing to and interacting with a significant, talented student population in a research environment. Riverside Research has multiple locations throughout the country, including several offices in the Dayton, Ohio, area, near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. ### About Riverside Research Riverside Research is a national security nonprofit serving the DOW and Intelligence Community. Through the company’s Open Innovation Center (OIC), it invests in multidisciplinary research and development and encourages collaboration. Riverside Research’s areas of expertise include Object and Activity Detection; Accelerated AI/ML; Zero Trust; Open Architectures; Computational Electromagnetics; Plasma Physics; Precision Timing; Terahertz Imaging; Commercial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); Collection Planning; and more. Learn more at www.riversideresearch.org. About Research Park at the University of Illinois Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu. 

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    Community EnterpriseWorks Features News Research Park

    New Podcast Episode: Nancy Sullivan

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (May 5, 2026) — Nancy Sullivan, CEO, Managing Director, and Managing Principal of Illinois Ventures, joined the Innovations at Research Park to discuss how her organization, Research Park and EnterpriseWorks, work hand-in-hand to move ideas from the lab to the market. When talking about the beginnings of the partnership between Illinois Ventures and Research Park, Sullivan pointed to Illinois Ventures’ space in EnterpriseWorks. “We took up space right in the EnterpriseWorks location…we wanted to prove we were directly connected with them,” Sullivan said. Sullivan described the partnership as a full-service support system for founders, with Research Park providing the infrastructure and Illinois Ventures providing the investment expertise. “If you’re a founder, you have a group of highly talented individuals who want to help you get set up and get your idea out of the lab and into EnterpriseWorks. The infrastructure exists in Research Park and [Illinois Ventures] has co-located to help with the investing,” said Sullivan. To hear the full conversation about Nancy Sullivan’s career and her thoughts on expanding entrepreneurship in Champaign, listen to the Innovations at Research Park podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast network. The Innovations at Research Park podcast highlights Champaign’s thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture. It is hosted by Tanmay Shah, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus.  Is there something you want to know about Research Park? Do you have an idea for a guest for the show or a story we should pursue? Contact Kaleb Medina at kmedin22@illinois.edu

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    Community News Research Park

    Dow Delivery Center Opens at Research Park

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (April 8, 2026) – Dow has officially opened its Delivery Center at the University of Illinois Research Park, establishing a dedicated hub for artificial intelligence and analytics that will support the company’s operations worldwide. The opening represents Dow’s continued commitment to building the infrastructure and talent needed in an increasingly technology-driven materials science industry. Serving customers across packaging, mobility, and consumer applications, Dow operates at a scale where AI and data have become central to how the company delivers value. As those technologies continue to reshape industrial operations, Dow has made analytics a core part of its long-term strategy, investing in the people and platforms required to put that vision into practice. The Delivery Center is the latest expression of that strategy. Operating within Dow’s Enterprise, Data and Analytics organization, it is structured around four pillars: data excellence, business strategy, applied use cases, and AI governance. Together, those pillars guide how the center connects Dow’s data assets to operational decisions, supported by the company’s Integrated Data Hub. “Dow is a company based on innovation. It’s the core of what we do. To have this association and strong alignment with the University of Illinois, building on what we’ve been doing together for years in R&D, and now bringing IT and AI into that alignment, is an exciting time,” said Chris Bruman, Chief Data Analytics Officer at Dow. For decades, Dow and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have collaborated on sponsored research in chemical and biomolecular engineering, materials science, and sustainability, with Dow serving as one of the university’s longstanding corporate research partners. The Delivery Center extends that relationship into new territory, with University of Illinois students working alongside full-time professionals on live initiatives with real operational stakes. “We are excited to welcome the Dow Delivery Center to the University of Illinois Research Park. Dow is a global leader in materials science with decades of experience in data science and pioneering work in AI and machine learning. This on-campus location will facilitate faculty collaboration, student experiential employment through the University of Illinois, and connections with other technology leaders throughout the Research Park,” said Laura Appenzeller, Executive Director of the University of Illinois Research Park. Jen Quinlan leads the site, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the tech industry and a deep familiarity with the Research Park environment, having previously launched and directed innovation centers on the same campus. ### About Dow Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications. The company operates manufacturing sites in 29 countries and employs approximately 34,600 people. Learn more at dow.com. About Research Park at the University of Illinois The Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within Research Park, there are 120 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu.

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    Community Features News Research Park

    New Podcast Episode: Year in Review 2025

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Jan. 8, 2026) – Research Park leaders Laura Appenzeller and Laura Bleill join the Innovations at Research Park podcast to reflect on a milestone year celebrating the Research Park’s 25th anniversary. This episode, hosted by Tanmay Shah, explores the achievements that made 2025 unforgettable and the plans that will shape the next quarter century. When discussing the Research Park’s 25-year legacy, Appenzeller highlighted its lasting impact on student careers and the broader innovation ecosystem. “We’ve been able to employ thousands of students. The impact is really many people that have had some time that they’ve spent at the Research Park, whether that’s a startup or an intern or an employee that goes on to a successful career elsewhere,” Appenzeller said.  Looking to the future, Bleill discussed what’s ahead for Research Park, including plans for a new incubator facility and residential development. “We are at an inflection point. I think we have a lot of things that we are looking at as opportunities that could truly be transformational and, honestly, a generational opportunity for us looking forward,” Bleill said. To hear the full conversation about Research Park’s past, present and future, tune in to the Innovations at Research Park podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast network. The Innovations at Research Park podcast highlights Champaign’s thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture. It is hosted by Tanmay Shah, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus.  Is there something you want to know about Research Park? Do you have an idea for a guest for the show or a story we should pursue? Do you want to provide other feedback? Contact Laura Bleill (lwbleill@illinois.edu).

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    Community News Research Park

    Synchrony and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Celebrate Major Expansion as Emerging Technology Center Surpasses 400 Internships, Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators 

    WCIA – Financial services company expanding operations at U of I (Sept. 18, 2025) PR Newswire- Synchrony and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Celebrate Major Expansion as Emerging Technology Center Surpasses 400 Internships, Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators (Sept. 18, 2025) Stock Titan- Synchrony and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Celebrate Major Expansion as Emerging Technology Center Surpasses 400 Internships, Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators (Sept. 18, 2025) University Leaders Join Ceremony to Unveil Expanded Center to Train Students in Tech Skills of the Future CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (September 18, 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. First opened in 2018, Synchrony’s Emerging Technology Center (ETC) serves as a hub for collaboration between Synchrony and U. of I., advancing the company’s finance and technology capabilities while equipping students with real-world skills in engineering, data science, analytics, human-centered design, and other emerging fields.   The expansion doubles the center’s seat count and introduces new collaboration areas, including flexible huddle rooms, event spaces for town halls and networking, and a remodeled café. A commissioned mural from a local artist will pay tribute to both the state of Illinois and the university to uplift design in the heart of the space.   Through the ETC, interns partner year-round with Synchrony employees from more than 60 teams on projects that fuel business growth and enhance the customer experience. The center is a key talent pipeline, with dozens of interns accepting full time roles in areas such as technology, credit, analytics and more at Synchrony since the program began.   “The expansion of our Emerging Technology Center reflects the incredible talent of U. of I. students as well as the enduring strength of our partnership with the university,” said Tim Christensen, CIO, Synchrony. “Together, we’ve built a model that both enhances Synchrony’s innovation goals and provides students with opportunities to advance and grow technology skills. We are proud of the impact of this partnership and excited to grow this collaboration for years to come.”  “Synchrony has been a tremendous launchpad for students pursuing technological and analytical careers in consumer finance,” said Dr. Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at U. of I., “The company demonstrates how to bridge academic research with industry applications, which is a win-win for our campus that puts so much emphasis on the value of experiential learning. We are so grateful for Synchrony’s unwavering investment in our students and engagement in many campus programs.” Beyond internships, Synchrony and UIUC co-host events including hackathons, Datathons targeting students interested in the field of Data Science, and in-class lectures around topics like Generative AI, engineering, and credit modeling, strengthening a culture of innovation that benefits students, the university, and the company. This milestone builds on Synchrony’s broader education initiatives worldwide, which aim to build pathways to financial credit access and financial mobility for Americans. For more information about Synchrony’s impact in Illinois and beyond, visit:  https://synchronyimpact.com.    About Synchrony   Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a leading consumer financing company at the heart of American commerce and opportunity. From health to home, auto to retail, our Synchrony products have been serving the needs of people and businesses for nearly 100 years. We provide responsible access to credit and banking products to support healthier financial lives for tens of millions of people, enabling them to access the things that matter to them. Additionally, through our innovative products and experiences, we support the growth and operations of some of the country’s most respected brands, as well as more than 400,000 small and midsize businesses and health and wellness providers that Americans rely on. Synchrony is proud to be ranked as the country’s #2 Best Company to Work For® by Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.synchrony.com.  About the Research Park at the University of Illinois  The Research Park at the University of Illinois 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. Follow the company on LinkedIn at UIResearchPark.  Media Contact Tyler Allen Synchrony Tyler.Allen@syf.com  Laura Weisskopf Bleill University of Illinois Research Park lwbleill@illinois.edu

    Synchrony and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Celebrate Major Expansion as Emerging Technology Center Surpasses 400 Internships, Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators  Read Post »

    Community Events News Research Park

    Research Park Summer Softball League: Caterpillar Wins 2025 Summer Championship

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Research Park Softball League concluded its season with a championship game on Monday, Aug. 4 where the Caterpillar Innovation Center would claim its second consecutive championship. The league ran throughout the summer, bringing together employees from companies across the Research Park for weekly games. Teams competed in a tournament-style bracket, with matches that mixed experienced players with newcomers still learning the rules. Caterpillar’s win marked back-to-back titles for the team, demonstrating consistent performance across two seasons. The championship game capped a competitive season where all 10 teams showed improvement from their early matches. “This year’s league was a blast,” said Bryan Goode, Talent Manager at Research Park. “Beyond the fun on the field, it created friendships across Research Park companies, gave interns a chance to build relationships outside their own teams and strengthened camaraderie within companies. It’s more than just a game, it helps employees old and new connect, encourages collaboration across organizations and builds the kind of trust and teamwork that carries back into the workplace.” The league has grown in recent years, drawing participants from various Research Park companies. Games are played on summer evenings, giving employees a chance to meet outside their usual work environments. We extend a special thank you to all the companies who participated in the Softball League: Champaign Caterpillar Innovation Center Motorola Solutions  U. of I. Community Credit Union Littelfuse Synchrony Emerging Technology Center Electric Power Engineers Center for Energy Innovation University of Illinois Research Park John Deere Technology Innovation Center COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab Mondelēz International

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    Community Events Internships News Recognition & Awards

    Research Park Celebrates Interns During the 19th Annual Intern Awards Ceremony

    The 19th Annual Research Park Intern Awards Ceremony, which celebrates the contributions of outstanding student interns at Research Park corporate innovation centers and startups, took place on July 24, 2025. The awards ceremony brings together interns representing diverse skill sets and industry sectors, as well as their managers and colleagues. It reflects the overall depth and breadth of excellence of intern work that occurs daily at Research Park. Awards were given in the following categories: Best Startup Intern Best Technical Innovation Best Business Innovation Most Outstanding Graduate Student Intern Most Outstanding Undergraduate Student Intern Most Competent and Collaborative Team Among the notable projects showcased was an intern who developed an in-house model that once deployed saved their company $60,000 in expenses. Another standout project involved a group of interns who developed XR prototypes that have been deployed and utilized in tech centers across three different continents and did so an entire year ahead of the original schedule. The ceremony and nominations highlighted the incredible talent within the Research Park community and underscored the vital role that internships play in fostering the next generation of industry leaders. Best Startup Intern  Hrishikesh Sarda | Earthsense | Mechanical Engineering Intern | Master of Science in Technology Management | Gies College of Business “Hrishi has very quickly demonstrated his value to our team. He takes on responsibility with the trustworthiness of a full-time engineer. He works independently, gives valuable design feedback, and shows comfort in the unknown. He found an error in my calculation, researched the topic to correct it, and brings a level of attention to detail rare at his experience level.” Finalists: Dongjoon Jeong | Hinetics | Mechanical Engineering Intern | Mechanical Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering Daniel Ormsbee | Boston Bioprocess | Bioprocess Intern | Molecular Biology and Mechanical Engineering | Cedarville University Best Technical innovation Undergraduate winner: Om Mistry | Brunswick Boating Intelligence Design Lab | Data Engineering Intern | Industrial Engineering and Statistics | Grainger College of Engineering “During his internship, Om’s primary responsibility was to enhance our data ingestion pipelines across multiple projects. One of his most impactful contributions was improving our propeller recommendation tool, which helps customers select the right propeller for their boat and engine combination—reducing both customer and dealer stress and driving internal sales. He brought initiative, technical curiosity, and a structured mindset—researching machine learning, building a user-focused interface, and delivering high-quality code. His adaptability, collaboration, and impact on a high-visibility project stood out throughout his internship.” Graduate winner: Farid Ahmed | Rivian | Thermal Modeling Intern | Nuclear Plasma and Radiological Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering “In a context where mileage per watt is a key performance metric, Farid’s contributions are especially impactful. His initial studies indicated an 8–10% improvement in cooling efficiency compared to the current design. He is self-motivated, thoughtful, and collaborative. His technical rigor and clear communication have made him a valued team member influencing high-priority design decisions.” Best Business Innovation Shravani Bhupal | COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab | Project Manager/UI-UX Intern | Master of Science in Information Management  “Shravani led development of a Power BI dashboard for technology budget tracking, producing a tool now essential for strategic reporting. Her precision, innovation, and ability to bridge technical and business needs earned praise from leadership, who highlighted her fresh perspective and strong communication on complex financial data.” Finalists: Luke Peng | Synchrony Emerging Technology Center | Operations Analyst- Data Engineering Intern | Statistics Most Outstanding Undergraduate Student Intern Miguel Aenlle | PrairieLearn | Software Engineering Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering “As a freshman, he immediately led a full redesign of our navigation system—interviewing users, building an accessible UI, and engineering a staged rollout. His work is already in production. In 20 years of mentoring interns, Miguel is the best I’ve worked with. His impact has been extraordinary.” Finalists: Isabella Chou | Mondelēz International | XR Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering Austin Carlen | Applied Pavement Technology | Engineering Technician Intern | Engineering Technology | Lake Land College Most Outstanding Graduate Student Intern Nanguan Lin | Boston Bioprocess  | Software Engineering Intern | Computer Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering  “Nanguan has been instrumental in building a new Lab Information Management System from scratch. He rapidly grasped requirements, led stakeholder interviews, and delivered a robust dashboard that’s now a cornerstone of operations. He balances professionalism and approachability—equally comfortable leading technical discussions and bringing positive energy to everyday team interactions.” Finalists: Charlie Du | Brunswick Boating Intelligence Design Lab | Computer Graphics Software Developer Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering Kinjal Parekh | COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab | Project Manager/Software Developer Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering Most Competent and Collaborative Team Mondelēz International XR Team Isabella Chou | XR Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering Josh Sutanto  | XR Intern | Computer Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering Roshni Dave  | XR Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering “The Mondelez XR team delivered both high-quality work and a remarkable number of prototypes, despite being new to XR. Their teamwork, adaptability, and dedication exceeded every brief—so much so, new ones had to be created. Their prototypes are now being deployed across three continents, with one fast-tracked for consumer research a year early. This accelerated timeline reflects the immediate business value of their work and is expected to drive faster ROI and greater digital adoption.” Finalists: Brunswick Boating Intelligence Design Lab Aashish Subramanian | Computer Graphics Software Developer Intern | Computer Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering Charlie Du | Computer Graphics Software Developer Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering Jaden Ambrocio Alcantara | Computer Graphics Software Engineering Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering Kaavya Vassa | Front End Development Intern | Computer Science and Bioengineering | Grainger College of Engineering Melody Breg | Mechanical Engineer Intern | Mechanical Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering Swathi Sureshmoorthy | Computer Graphic Software Developer Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering  Ameren Innovation Center Jason Liao | Data Science Intern | Computer Science | Grainger College of

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    Community Events News

    COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab Wins 2025 Research Park Hackathon

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – 11 teams of 65 total participants competed in the 2025 Research Park Hackathon on Tuesday, July 1. Teams had 16 hours to create a project aligned with the theme “Innovation in a Day.” The Hackathon held a science-fair style exhibition session where judges and guests could learn more about participants’ projects. Finalists demonstration and presented their work to the judges, who scored them in three categories; business viability, creativity and execution. Judges were highly impressed with the team’s outcomes. Not only did projects perform well in the Hackathon, but judges believe they would yield successful results if integrated into internal production. “Participating in Hackathons like this from a judging perspective helps me get an understanding of some of the newest tools and technologies out there and where the younger talent is focusing their efforts,” said Jarai Carter, Senior Manager of Data Science at the John Deere Technology and Innovation Center. “I saw some really cool ideas where I’m like, ‘this is actually something that could be used in a variety of different settings.’” 2025 Research Park Hackathon Winners: COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab won first place for “Party Mode,” a real-time Spotify voting feature allowing users to upvote and downvote the songs in a communal queue. Groups are democratically able to choose what song plays, leading to better music experiences and reduced conflicts. Mondelēz International won second place for “Labyrinth”, a platform designed to easily connect students with professors based on academic interests, skill level, availability, and academic compatibility. COUNTRY Financial DigitaLab also won third place for “Wrist Play”, a smart watch that establishes a seamless communication channel between the watch itself, and smartphones. Wrist Play using Google Play Services’ Wearable Data API to enable gesture recognition and motion-based control applications. Mondelēz International also won the “Fan Favorite” award for “UniTion”, which allows students to place their homework, exam, and lab deadlines in one central location such as Google Calendar or Notion by taking data from any course website allowing one place for all deadlines to be organized. The Kohler Innovation Center won the “Most Creative” award for “Duolingo World”, a VR program allowing users to be places in realistic environments where they can interact with NPCs, ask questions, check out at a store, and solve spontaneous challenges all while learning a language of their choosing. The John Deere Technology Innovation Center won “Best Business Potential” for “Real Useful Life Prediction,” a software used to predict the estimated life remaining on John Deere equipment. The software can alert users of where issues may appear, and can point them in the direction of getting repairs. The judges included: More photos from the event can be viewed in the Research Park media gallery and on the Research Park Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook pages. Learn more about the event on the Research Park Hackathon page. To participate in similar events, visit the Research Park calendar.

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