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    2021 Virtual AgTech Innovation Summit a Success

    The 2021 Agriculture Technology Innovation Summit was a success yet again, bringing together the biggest agriculture companies and brightest minds in agtech for the sixth year in a row; this time virtually. This year, Research Park held its first AgTech Networking Night prior to the AgTech Innovation Summit. This event allowed agtech professionals to connect with other conference-goers, hear pitches from agtech startups, and engage in meaningful discussion with one another on the night before the summit. This year’s event included remarks from industry thought leaders including Bayer’s Senior Vice President and Head of Seed Production Innovation Shannon Hauf, who delivered the keynote speech. In her speech, Hauf emphasizes the importance of innovation, diversity, and sustainability for the future of advertising. “If we are to meet the needs of the future, innovation is critical, it is needed. Everyone needs to be at the table to solve the challenges,” says Hauf.  The 2021 panels included discussions on agrifood innovation, regenerative agriculture, the ag sector’s role in carbon markets, AI farms, building the future agtech workforce, investment, and growers & producers. In addition to the unique mix of panel discussions, key individuals participated in fireside chats, where they could give brief presentations on their company, their technology, and their plans for the future. The day concluded with the AgTech Student Career Event, a first for the Summit. This interactive conference offers participants the opportunity to learn and share knowledge about the current state of agtech and looking into the future through dynamic panels, inspiring keynote presentations, and networking opportunities. The AgTech Summit is a collaboration between the University of Illinois Research Park, the University of Illinois, the College of ACES, and the Office of Corporate Relations. Thank you to all those from the local agriculture community as well as others from all over the globe that attended this virtual event. Another thank you to the moderators and panelists for sharing your time and talents. Last but not least, thanks to the AgTech 2021 sponsors who made this year’s event possible:  Bayer, John Deere, Moore & Warner Ag Group, Kin + Carta and Genective. To browse the event’s photo gallery, go here. For this year’s agenda, look below. And don’t forget to save the date for next year’s Agriculture Innovation Technology Summit on March 9, 2022. 2021 Agenda Wednesday March 10, 2021 8:00 AM: WEBINAR OPENS 8:15 AM: WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS Laura Frerichs | Executive Director, University of Illinois Research Park Chancellor Robert Jones | Chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 8:45 AM: MORNING KEYNOTE Shannon Hauf |  Senior Vice President and Head of Seed Production Innovation, Bayer Crop Science 9:10 AM: FIRESIDE CHAT: JIM SPRADLIN, GROWMARK Moderator: Dean Kim Kidwell |  Dean, University of Illinois College of ACES Jim Spradlin | CEO, GROWMARK 9:45 AM: AGRIFOOD INNOVATION Moderator: Vijay Singh | Director, University of Illinois IBRL Michael Fassnacht | Interim President & CEO, World Business Chicago  Linda Mallers Porzenheim | CEO & President, FarmLogix Robbert Rietbroek | Senior Vice President and General Manager, Quaker Foods North America Samir Mayekar | Deputy Mayor for Economic and Neighborhood Development, City of Chicago 10:15 AM: BREAK 10:30 AM: REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE Moderator: Adam Davis | Department Head, University of Illinois Dept. of Crop Sciences Matt Duncan | Manager of Digital Agronomy, Nutrien Ag Solutions Tom Rabaey | Sr. R&D Manager, General Mills 11:00 AM: FIRESIDE CHAT: SETH CRAWFORD, AGCO Moderator: Cody Allen | Assistant Professor, UIUC Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Seth Crawford | SVP, Precision Ag and Digital, AGCO  11:20 AM: GLEN “GB” BRANDT PRIZE FOR AG ENTREPRENEURISM 11:35 AM: THE AG SECTOR’S ROLE IN CARBON MARKETS Moderator: Megan Miller | Business Development Manager, Moore & Warner Ag Group Emma Fuller | Director of Sustainability Science, Granular Chris Harbourt | Global Head of Carbon, Indigo Ag Kaiyu Guan | Blue Waters Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 12:05 PM: FIRESIDE CHAT: JULIAN SANCHEZ, JOHN DEERE Moderator:  Laura Frerichs | Executive Director, University of Illinois Research Park Julian Sanchez | Director of Emerging Technology, John Deere 12:30 PM: EDWIN MOORE FAMILY AGRICULTURE INNOVATION PRIZE 12:45 PM: PAST MOORE INNOVATION PRIZE WINNERS Moderator: Jack Marck | Managing Director, Illinois AgTech Accelerator Angela Green-Miller | Co-Founder and President, TellTail Chinmay Soman | Co-founder and CEO, EarthSense Daphne Preuss | CEO, Aspiring Universe Kaustubh Bhalerao | CEO, Soil Diagnostics 1:15 PM FIRESIDE CHAT: KROGER Moderator:  Brendan McGinty | Director of Industry, National Center for Supercomputing Applications Dan Whitacre, Senior Director of Kroger Labs, Kroger 1:30 PM: FIRESIDE CHAT: SAM EATHINGTON, CORTEVA Moderator: Dean Kim Kidwell |  Dean, University of Illinois College of ACES Sam Eathington | Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Corteva Agriscience 2:00 PM: BREAK 2:15 PM: EMERGING DISRUPTION IN AGRICULTURE What technology or business model will be the next big disruption or game-changing paradigm in agriculture? For this session with Genective President & CEO Linda Jing, we will gather ideas in advance and select contributors to share their vision live during the program. During the AgTech Summit we will use the Zoom polling feature to ask participants to vote on ideas that they think will be most impactful the industry. Submit your idea. If you submit an idea, you will receive the collective input from all contributed ideas in this call for submissions.  The results will be aggregated and not attributed to individual names or companies. We will also share polling results from the event and notes from the overall AgTech Summit. Moderator:  Laura Frerichs | Executive Director, University of Illinois Research Park Linda Jing | President & CEO, Genective 2:40 PM: AI FARMS Moderator:  Germán Bollero | Associate Dean of Research, University of Illinois College of ACES Vikram Adve | Co-Director, Center for Digital Ag Matt Hudson | Co-Director, Center for Digital Ag 3:00 PM: BUILDING THE FUTURE AGTECH WORKFORCE Moderator: Laura Bleill | Director, Communications and External Engagement, University of Illinois Research Park Misha Shah | Site Manager, AGCO April Hoffart | Modeling Capability Manager, ADM Blake Giles | Head of Innovation Center, Bayer 3:30 PM: INVESTMENT IN AGTECH Moderator: Nancy Sullivan | CEO & Managing Director, Illinois Ventures Darren Streiler | Managing Director – ADM Ventures, ADM Dennis Beard | Managing Partner, Serra Ventures Michael Lavin | Founder & Managing Partner, Germin8 Ventures 4:00 PM: GROWERS & PRODUCERS Moderator: Jim Hedges | VP Seed & Services Marketing, Winfield United Mike Haag | Former President, Illinois Pork Producers Association Brady Holst | At Large Director, Illinois Soybean Association John Williams | Farm Manager, Sola Gratia Farm 4:25 PM: CLOSING REMARKS 4:30 – 5:30 PM: AGTECH STUDENT CAREER

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    Community Events News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Farmer Will Glazik Awarded 2021 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism

    Champaign, Illinois (March 10, 2021) — Fifth generation Illinois farmer Will Glazik was named the inaugural recipient of the Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism, an award that honors an individual who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices. The award was presented at the 2021 AgTech Innovation Summit, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. Glazik’s nominations highlighted these qualities as a farmer, researcher, public speaker, distillery owner, and entrepreneur.  “Will is blazing a trail for a new generation of farmers in Illinois who want to be active managers and marketers for a diverse array of products,” said nominator Dr. Adam Davis,  head of the Department of Crop Sciences in the UI College of ACES.  “He is creative and fearless in trying out new innovations in production methods, marketing and new product creation. He is generous with sharing his knowledge, reaching and teaching hundreds of other growers through his work with the IDEA Farm Network.” 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.  Glazik manages Cow Creek Organics Farms in Paxton, Ill., where he has diversified the farming system, moving from producing grain to an integrated crop-livestock operation selling high-quality organic meats, grains, and seeds. His business ventures use modern technology to innovate more efficient processes and minimize the carbon footprint of farming, with the end goal of all being carbon negative. Together with his two brothers Clayton and Dallas, the family founded Silver Tree Beer and Spirits in 2017. Silver Tree is a carbon-negative farm distillery taking the organic grains they grow on their home farm to distill into spirits.  Silver Tree Spirits is currently working with the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab to research flavor profiles in bourbon. “I am honored and very excited to be awarded this grant,” Glazik said. “It comes at a very exciting time as our farm diversifies, and Silver Tree is transitioning from having our grain custom distilled, to now owning our own still, and will soon be doing everything in Paxton. “ Glazik also helped co-found the IDEA Farm Network, a peer-to-peer information exchange network for farmers in Illinois and beyond interested in innovative farm management that balances productivity, profitability and environmental health. The group is active through online discussion groups, webinars and on-farm field days. It has blossomed from 45 people to more than 400 members across the Midwest. A proud alumnus from the University of Illinois College of ACES, Glazik graduated in 2013 with a degree in crop science. 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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    Community News Research Park

    Research Park Launches Innovations @ Research Park Podcast

    Champaign —  The University of Illinois Research Park celebrated the launch of its new “Innovations @ Research Park” podcast, designed to give voice to the stories of innovation across its high tech community. The podcast will highlight the thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture in Champaign. Tune in to hear insightful conversations with individuals across the Research Park community- startups, corporations, faculty students, and alumni. The first episode features Mark Moran, site director of the John Deere Technology Innovation Center at Research Park, in honor of Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week.  John Deere has been an anchor for the agtech sector, which has blossomed in the past decade. Moran discusses why agtech innovation is critical in 2021, misconceptions on what “AgTech” means, and why the Research Park and UIUC have become a central hub for agtech innovation. The podcast is being produced as a partnership with Project20 Media. Podcast host Tanmay Shah is a an alumnus of the Grainger College of Engineering, and got a taste of the Research Park experience by completing a software engineering internship at the State Farm Research and Development Center while on campus. “I had the chance to be part of several incredible organizations in the entrepreneurship community during my time at UIUC,” Shah said. “As an alum, I continue to be amazed by the innovative output of the Research Park and wanted to help showcase these stories through a podcast series. “Through the podcast, I’m excited to speak with members of the Research Park community and help share insights into why the Research Park is a leading innovation hub.” 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). To listen to the podcast, visit iTunes Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to download your podcasts.

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    Community Events News Research Park

    Celebration of AgTech: Summit Brings Together Thought Leaders Across the Value Chain of Ag

    Champaign – The most innovative minds in agtech will convene virtually Wednesday, March 10 for the sixth annual AgTech Innovation Summit hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park and presented by Bayer. The free event features a lineup of panels, fireside chats and presentations, with a unique mix of industry thought leaders, agtech investors, academics, growers/producers, and startups to provide a well-rounded perspective on the future of AgTech. Attendees will explore how technology solutions are addressing some of the most significant challenges facing agriculture today, including sustainability, profitability, supply chain, carbon markets, data and more. “We look forward to the days when conference guests can visit the agtech hub of Champaign-Urbana again, but the virtual format facilitates engagement with even more industry leaders,” said Laura Frerichs, executive director of the University of Illinois Research Park. “What started as a regional conference has grown into an event that attracts participants not only nationally, but from around the world.” Highlights of the agenda include fireside chats with GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin and Corteva Chief Technology Officer Sam Eathington, both talking live with Dean Kimberlee Kidwell of the College of ACES; Genective President & CEO Linda Jing talking about disruption; AGCO Senior Vice President Seth Crawford discussing precision agriculture and connectivity ; and Julian Sanchez, John Deere’s Director of Emerging Technology talking about his career path to agtech. Annual favorite panels return, including those featuring growers/producers, investors, and agtech entrepreneurs. New panel topics include regenerative agriculture and carbon markets. Another new panel highlights the connectivity between agtech and agrifood innovation, centralized in Chicago. Networking remains a key component of the event. Despite the virtual environment, the AgTech Summit offers opportunities to connect with other conference participants with an AgTech Networking night Tuesday, March 9 at 5 pm. The evening will feature startup pitches, engaging discussions, and meaningful connections. The generous sponsors who make the AgTech Summit possible include Bayer, John Deere, Genective,  Moore & Warner Ag Group, and Kin + Carta. The AgTech Innovation Summit is programmed by the University of Illinois Research Park in partnership with the Office of Corporate Relations and the College of ACES. Registration is available online here.  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. Find the Research Park on Twitter at @UIResearchPark.

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    Community News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    New Glen Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism Honors Legacy of Influential AgriBusiness Leader

    CHAMPAIGN – Nominations are now being accepted for the Glen Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism, a new prize established to honor the memory of Glen “GB” Brandt, a legendary figure in the field of Illinois agriculture. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has partnered with The BRANDT Foundation to create the award, which will provide a $10,000 prize to a winner who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices. “The business community lost a real entrepreneur when GB passed away,” said Rick Brandt, President and CEO of BRANDT and GB’s son. “GB was a visionary; he took calculated business risks; he wasn’t afraid to try something new. He brought new ideas and new technologies to our customers, oftentimes when others were actively saying it couldn’t be done.” The son of a farmer from Sangamon County, GB, along with his sister Evelyn, started the company that would become the global agribusiness known as BRANDT. He provided the vision and energy to imagine, build and manage what today has 800 employees and sales in 46 countries. He died on June 7, 2020 at age 94. “We are establishing this prize to honor his legacy and provide the capital to help other budding entrepreneurs see their ideas come to life,” said Rick Brandt. The first winner of the Glen Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism will be recognized at the AgTech Innovation Summit, an annual event produced by the University of Illinois Research Park, on March 10, 2021. The $10,000 cash prize will recognize an outstanding individual for their role in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship in the ag sector. Nominations are now being solicited online. The deadline for submission is March 3, 2021. Those eligible for the award include Illinois farmers, growers and producers or those engaged with Illinois farmers, growers and producers. Examples of possible innovations include (but are not limited to): working to increase productivity/efficiency of farmers; new applications of technology; unique business ventures; and creating new agricultural opportunities, such as new crops or new food production systems. 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 to 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. Contacts:Karl Barnhart, The BRANDT Foundation, karl.barnhart@brandt.coLaura Bleill, Research Park, lwbleill@illinois.edu

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    Community Investments News Research Park

    Study Says Champaign-Urbana Economic Development Efforts Should Target Three Clusters – AgTech, MedTech and Manufacturing

    Report Provides Suggestions for Next Steps to Maximize Impact of Future Investment & Community Collaboration CHAMPAIGN, IL, February 10, 2021 – A recent study commissioned by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office of Corporate Relations has identified three strong business clusters that provide a framework for where to focus the area’s economic development efforts. Business Cluster Development, led by principal Carol Lauffer, completed more than 80 interviews with community, University, and business leaders in Champaign County to review the potential for growth and development of six industry clusters. Following interviews and extensive research, Lauffer then identified three strong clusters deserving of further investment: AgTech, MedTech, and Manufacturing. “Those of us who call Champaign-Urbana home know what a vibrant community we live in,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “As we deliberately plan for economic recovery and a post-pandemic future, this visionary report reflects a strong collaboration between the University and the broader community. Identifying AgTech, MedTech, and Manufacturing clusters brings together our respective strengths in innovation and positions us for exciting new opportunities.” Underlying all of the sectors, Lauffer wrote, is the community’s strength in data science. The report affirms the three specific industry clusters in the region and provides an understanding of how those clusters may be leveraged as regional strengths. The 2021 report, including an executive summary, can be found online here and is available for public download. AGTECH: AgTech combines UIUC’s technical expertise and talent in agriculture, engineering and data analytics with Champaign County as a prime growing region for corn and soybeans. Access to farmers as customers and farms as testbeds are important advantages for early-stage companies and the cluster. MEDTECH: The emerging MedTech cluster in Champaign-Urbana capitalizes upon a relatively new and significant innovation asset, Carle Illinois College of Medicine; combined with UIUC engineering and bioscience expertise and research; and other healthcare innovation assets across the community, including the local hospitals and COVID-19 efforts. MANUFACTURING: Manufacturing continues to be an important industry for Champaign- Urbana and an economic development priority. Generally, manufacturers in Champaign-Urbana make products that are non-standardized, have a more limited market size, or require customization. A number develop prototypes for entrepreneurs and businesses, including assistance with refining their product designs before scale-up. Lauffer noted in the report that targeting and growing industry clusters is an economic development strategy designed to leverage the strengths present in a community in order to support new business formation, business retention and attraction, and grow the local economy. “Research shows that when businesses from related industries locate in close proximity to one another they can increase their productivity and drive innovation,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “This report not only identifies clusters, but provides strategies to help advance them. We are fortunate to be in a community that values collaboration. Together, we will continue to build our workforce and attract more capital into these clusters.” This is the second time BCD has studied Champaign-Urbana. In 2014, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign commissioned Lauffer to assess and identify clusters that would capitalize upon its research strengths and expertise, and strengthen the local economy. That study contributed to the business case for the formation of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. About Business Cluster Development (BCD): BCD, based in Palo Alto, CA, is a consulting firm focused on industry clusters or verticals. BCD provides guidance to operating incubators and accelerators and develops strategies that catalyze emerging innovation clusters. BCD evaluates entrepreneurial ecosystems and recommends paths to making them vibrant. BCD has consulted with clients for nearly 25 years and assisted with more than 80 programs across the U.S. and overseas. BCD’s clients are diverse, including cities, states, economic development organizations, universities, community colleges, research institutes, industry associations, non-profit organizations, real estate developers, and corporations. Learn more at http://clusterdevelopment.com/.

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    Community News Research Park

    Illinois Conference Center at Research Park Serves as Community Vaccine Clinic

    The Illinois Conference Center at Research Park has played a central role in getting the COVID-19 vaccine into Champaign County arms. The newly expanded conference center has been one of the primary locations for distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to Champaign County residents, primarily those 65 and up. Julie Pryde, executive director of the Champaign Urbana Public Health District, says the conference center is home to the “nation’s fanciest vaccine clinic.” Currently, vaccines are available by appointment only. Information about vaccines, and how to access them, is available on the CUPHD website.  The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD)  hosts community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics in partnership with Carle Health, OSF HealthCare, Christie Clinic, Promise Healthcare, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Updated vaccine information for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty, staff, and students can be found at the University’s COVID-19 website.

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    Community Events News Research Park

    Big Data Summit Goes Virtual

    Champaign, IL – The eighth annual Big Data Summit hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park is going virtual on Thursday, November 12. This year’s Summit will be focused on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. This interactive conference offers participants the opportunity to learn and share knowledge about key aspects of big data and its business applications through dynamic panels, networking opportunities, and inspiring presentations including a presentation from our keynote speaker Phil Hajduk, Vice President of R&D Information Research at Abbvie. Attendees will hear from industry experts including scientists from Corteva, Jarai Carter on AWS DeepRacer, Ken Taylor’s experience with All Covid Tests (ACT) Pipeline, SimBioSys’ Chief Scientific Officer John Cole, Amobee VP of Engineering Larry Lo, Ensaras President Nina Kshetry, and more. The Data Science User Group will be hosting a kick-off event for the Summit on Friday, November 6 from 12 to 1 pm. The aim of the user group is to build a community of interest around data science to foster learning, collaboration, and networking. Students, academics, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals are all invited to join this event. Following the event will be the Big Data Student Career Mixer from 4 to 5 pm. The Student Career Mixer is intended to bring together students with a common interest in big data and data analytics. It also allows students to connect with companies who have opportunities in big data. The agenda is available online here. The event will take place virtually through Zoom. Register online here. 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 researchpark5.wpenginepowered.com. Find the Research Park on Twitter at @UIResearchPark.

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    Community EnterpriseWorks Graduates News Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Mesh++ Helps Champaign Schoolchildren Access Internet for Remote Learning

    Mesh++, a startup that came out of the University of Illinois startup ecosystem and graduated from EnterpriseWorks, is part of a collaborative effort to provide wireless Internet connectivity to Champaign Unit 4 students living in the Shadowwood Mobile Home Park. The partners include Ameren Illinois, which is a division of Ameren Corporation that also has a presence in the University of Illinois Research Park. New wifi equipment is being installed in Shadowwood with the goal of having the equipment fully operational to support online learning by the start of the fall semester. The City of Champaign is coordinating the project with cooperation from Unit 4 Schools, i3 Broadband, Mesh++, Ameren Illinois, and Shadowwood Mobile Home Park. “Helping bridge the digital divide by providing free Internet service to our underserved students to facilitate distance learning has never been more important than it is right now. I applaud everyone who quickly pulled together to make this project possible and wish all our students the very best as we kickoff a very unique school year,” Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said in a news release. The project will provide wifi Internet connectivity for Shadowwood’s students to Unit 4 School’s online learning applications. This will be accomplished utilizing mesh-network wifi technology developed by Mesh++. Mesh++ spent a year at the EnterpriseWorks incubator, leaving in 2018. The company participated in various University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign entrepreneurship ecosystem activities, including placing as a finalist in the Cozad New Venture Competition and going through the iVenture Accelerator. It also received investment from Illinois Ventures. Now headquartered in Chicago, Mesh++ is led by president and CEO Danny Gardner, a University of Illinois alumnus. Underlying fiber connectivity for the project will be provided by i3 Broadband, who has waived all recurring fees for connectivity associated with this project while it is used to provide student access to online learning. Ameren Illinois is also assisting with the project by allowing the mesh-network equipment to be mounted on its light poles. Ameren Illinois and the City of Champaign will each provide bucket trucks and personnel to facilitate the equipment installation.

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    Community Events Internships News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Interns Recognized at 2020 Summer Intern Award Ceremony

    The Research Park gathered virtually to celebrate the most outstanding interns across its 120+ companies on Thursday, July 28. Fittingly, the ceremony was held on National Intern Day. The students honored as finalists and winners encompass a variety of disciplines, majors, and colleges from across the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, exemplifying the nature of interdisciplinary work that happens at Research Park companies. The end of the academic year and summer has posed many unique challenges for Research Park interns, although they proved surmountable. In the midst of a pandemic, interns definitely had unconventional learning experiences at the Park in comparison to past summers. They formed connections with peers, co-workers, and supervisors while working remotely – without having the chance to meet in-person. Many of them were even in time zones around the world. These interns have impacted the Research Park and their employers through the countless projects they conceived, worked diligently on, and followed through to completion. Thank you to all the managers who took the time to nominate their students. Thank you to the panel of professionals who judged these awards. To watch the entirety of the Intern Awards ceremony, click HERE. Entrepreneurial Leadership in a Startup Grayson Schaer, Research Associate at EditekkUndergraduate in Aerospace Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering “Grayson is a joy to work with because he is a receptive listener and an effective communicator. Grayson is passionate about his work and a quick learner who adapts to various challenges very quickly. Although his undergraduate training was in Aerospace Engineering, he has touched on many areas in his time with us that go well beyond this focus.”   Most Outstanding Undergraduate Intern Harry Zhao, Engineering Intern at CaterpillarUndergraduate in Aerospace Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering “Harry holds a high work ethic; he started on time even when working from home and finished all committed work on time. Harry also has a high potential to be a great leader. This summer, he was assigned three tasks in one week. However, he had long term insight and ask me to change the priority because one customer is desperate to get the correct result from a 1-click tool. The internship in Caterpillar prepares him for his future career and applies his STEM knowledge in real-world problems.” Anders Cox, Plasma Processing Intern at Starfire Industries LLCUndergraduate in Electrical Engineering | Grainger College of Engineering “Anders embedded himself with one of our Ph.D. researchers and became both the ‘right’ and ‘left’ arms of two different projects. Anders worked as an intern last summer, through the fall and into spring, and his dedication and commitment to Starfire, its team, and our mission show that motivation, behavior, and work ethic are valued. Anders deserves this award for his technical contribution and the personal side.” Finalists: Domenic Di Girolamo, Actuarial Intern at State FarmUndergraduate in Actuarial Science | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Jessica Huang, Market Research Analyst at AbbVie Innovation CenterUndergraduate in Accounting & Information Systems and Information Technology | Gies College of Business   Most Outstanding Graduate Intern Eric Cheng, Data Analyst at AbbVie Innovation CenterPh.D. in Food Science and Statistics “Eric is a conscientious student, bringing attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and a varied skill set to his position at AbbVie. He has contributed value in supporting and expanding his team’s ability to make decisions through the creation of a novel software package. Furthermore, he has supported the long-term use of his contributions with the creation of additional documentation and a more user-friendly interface for future data analysis. His advisor sums up Eric by stating: ‘As a former Professor of Preventive Medicine, I would certainly rank Eric in the top 0.5% of all graduate students that I have ever had.’” Finalists: Jialu Yan, Data Science Intern at CargillPh.D. in Physics Jack Massey, Actuarial Intern at State FarmMasters in Statistics Grant Greenberg, Neuroscience Bioinformatics Intern at AbbVie Innovation CenterPh.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering   Best Technical Innovation Award Katherine Ritchie, Cancer Metabolic Modeling Intern at SimBioSysUndergraduate in Computer Science | Grainger College of Engineering “Ms. Ritchie’s work ethic, leadership, and behavior have been exemplary over the course of this internship. Despite having to work remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms. Ritchie has maintained a professional attitude and a dedication to maintaining an office environment. Ms. Ritchie is routinely early to meetings and has no trouble describing her work, presenting challenges she is facing, proposing solutions, and offering suggestions for the work of others in the company. Her diligence, intelligence, and commitment to understanding our workflow have earned the appraisal of the entire leadership team.” Finalists: Ali Taghibakhshi, Student Robotics Intern at John DeerePh.D. in Mechanical Engineering Eric Cheng, Data Analyst at AbbVie Innovation CenterPh.D. in Food Science and Statistics   Best Non-Technical Innovation Nupur Bhardwaj, Human Resources & Community Intern at Motorola SolutionsUndergraduate in Marketing | Gies College of Business “Despite having to work independently and remotely, and Nupur has done a tremendous job with overcoming these obstacles. She has been a self-starter and comes up with all of the wonderful ideas for these events at Motorola Solutions. Nupur deserves this award because she stepped into a role we had never envisioned – creating community – which was very different than what she expected the internship would be. However, she not only embraced the role but excelled in it, far exceeding my expectations. Her efforts made the difference between having an okay internship experience due to COVID-19 and having an amazing internship experience in spite of the circumstances.” Finalists: Vishaank Ghai, Project Manager at COUNTRY Financial DigitaLabUndergraduate in Computer Science & Economics | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Anne Zulkarnain, UX/UI Designer at CargillUndergraduate in Industrial Design | College of Fine Arts   Most Competent and Collaborative Team Granular Flex Team: Jake Stahl, Undergraduate in Agriculture Business Market and Management | College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental SciencesJordan Breedlove, Undergraduate in Agriculture Business |College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences “Our Flex Team is

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