Events

AgTech Summit 2025
Events, Research Park

10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit Recap

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Research Park’s 10th Annual AgTech Summit on Thursday, March 6, 2025 fostered conversations surrounding the most pressing AgTech trends, including fintech, computing, and more. Moderators and panelists represented a wide spectrum of AgTech, including leaders from the State of Illinois, the agtech industry, startups, and more.  A major highlight of the Summit was the inaugural Startup World Cup Agriculture & Food Regional. This event brought together 10 innovative startups from seven states for a chance to win the Startup World Cup finale in October. Keep reading for a recap of the AgTech Summit. The event kicked off with opening remarks from our hosts and community leaders. Laura Appenzeller, the Executive Director of the University of Illinois Research Park and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois opened the day by highlighting Champaign-Urbana’s role as the heart of agriculture land and recognizing the history of the AgTech Summit. Then, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones spoke about the importance of radical collaborations in agriculture for the U. of I. The day’s first panel focused on The Circular Bioeconomy: Bioprocessing in all its Applications. Kim Kidwell, Associate Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at the University of Illinois, moderated this discussion, featuring Bühler Group Director of Innovation Thierry Duvanel, L’Oréal Chief Open Innovation/Open Excellence Officer Mohamed Kanji, and Black & Veatch Solutions Manager Jeremy Owen. After The Circular Bioeconomy, the first fireside chat started, spotlighting ADM‘s Chief Commercial Officer of Precision Fermentation, Allyson Fish. Fish sat down with moderator Beth Conerty, the Regional Innovation Officer at IBRL and iFAB.  The program then shifted to the presentation of the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize, which recognizes a University of Illinois entrepreneur focused on agricultural innovations. This year’s winner was Boston Bioprocess, an EnterpriseWorks startup that offers full-suite fermentation and downstream processing services at benchtop and pilot-scale. “It’s been a real pleasure to see them take over one lab after the next at the incubator, and one hire after the next, building an amazing team and startup company that is thriving,” said Laura Appenzeller. https://youtu.be/PRpUj_62EkE?si=oeid3sgPS7Gycbqp The second panel, The Intersection of AgTech & FinTech was moderated by John Reid, the Executive Director at the Center for Digital Agriculture. The panel covered the intersection between finance and agriculture, featuring HarvestIQ Vice President of Product Strategy Eric Barnard, Farmland Stock Exchange Co-founder and CEO Brian Kearney, Compeer Financial Director of New Markets Mary Morgan and CNH Industrial CX Business Product Owner Jennifer Whisman. After a break for lunch and a University department showcase, Research Park Talent Manager Bryan Goode and the AGCO Acceleration Center’s Business Site Lead Karandeep Singh shared how Research Park participated in HackIllinois‘ annual Hackathon on February 28 to March 2.  That was followed by a fireside chat with Kristin Richards, the Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Laura Appenzeller moderated this discussion about AgTech and government policy, business, and more.  The final panel of the day discussed Pushing the Frontiers of Computing to Solve Grand Challenges in Agriculture. Bayer‘s Head of Data, Systems, and Intelligence for Plant Biotech Mark Moran moderated panelists in a discussion of how computing is applied in the AgTech industry. Panelists included Intersect Illinois SVP, Chief Quantum Officer Preeti Chalsani, John Deere Senior Manager of Data Science Jarai Carter, ACES Gardner Associate Professor of Agricultural Policy Jonathan Coppess and Chicago Biomedical Consortium Executive Director Michelle Hoffmann. Wolf Creek Farm was awarded the 2025 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism. “[Wolf Creek Farm] has taken innovation to heart,” said Alex Lovdahl, award presenter and Director of Insights and Analytics at BRANDT. The farm “seamlessly integrates sustainable growing methods, self-designed equipment and precision agriculture to maximize efficiency and quality.” This award presentation was followed by Startup World Cup‘s Agriculture & Food Regional competition, featuring pitches from the following startups:  AGTECHLOGIC INC. — Developed Agtellio, an AI solution helping farms reduce chemical use by up to 90%, lowering costs and improving yields while providing actionable insights for asset efficiency. Cattle Care — Uses computer vision with existing security cameras to measure employee efficiency on dairy farms, enabling performance-based compensation and improving workforce productivity. EarthSense, Inc. — Creates AI-powered farming robots targeting labor shortages and rising costs, initially serving oil palm companies in Asia that manage over 10 million hectares. Re-Nuble — Converts vegetative food byproducts into biological fertilizers and peat replacements, helping commercial farms reduce costs and mitigate pathogen risks through lab-tested products. Vivid Machines — Offers tractor-mountable AI cameras providing real-time, per-plant fruit predictions, enabling precise tree-level decisions to increase fruit size and reduce labor costs. Earnest Agriculture — Produces Prairie Power, a probiotic seed coating that improves soil health, delivering a proven 6 percent yield increase for row crop farmers with measurable ROI. Oaken — Building asset management software to streamline farmland management and financing, automating payments, lease management, and relationship tracking. Good Agriculture — Provides AI-powered farm business management that automates back-office tasks, saving farmers 5-10 hours weekly while improving profitability. Integrated Dynamics, Inc. — Developing high-selectivity waste-to-value technology using synthetic biology and high-temperature microbes to convert organic waste into commodity chemicals. UfarmX — Africa’s largest farmer data and procurement platform connecting smallholder farmers to agribusinesses and financial institutions, eliminating middlemen and enhancing supply chain efficiency. Congratulations to Champaign-based startup EarthSense for winning the 2025 Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional.  The final fireside chat featured Chris Harbourt, CEO of Frenzy Ag, and Ken Paige, Founder, Chief Science Officer and President of Frenzy Ag. The discussion was moderated by EnterpriseWorks Director of Entrepreneurship Gerald Wilson. The 2025 AgTech Innovation Summit concluded with a Tech Showcase of local startups and area innovators during a networking reception. The AgTech Summit is free thanks to its generous sponsors John Deere, AGCO, the College of ACES, Frenzy Ag, Buhler Group, Cooley, GDM, Intersect Illinois, the Illinois/Champaign County Farm Bureau, the University of Illinois Foundation, Pixo and the NSF I-Corps Hub. The AgTech Summit is hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park with support from the University of Illinois, the College of ACES, and the Office of Corporate Relations.

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EnterpriseWorks, Events, Investments, News, Research Park

Finalists announced for Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional

UPDATE: Congratulations to Champaign-based EarthSense for winning the 2025 Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional!  CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (February 26, 2025) – Today the University of Illinois Research Park, in partnership with Serra Ventures, gener8tor, and Pegasus Tech Ventures, announced the 10 startups selected as finalists in the inaugural Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional pitch competition. The Startup World Cup: Agriculture and Food Regional will take place as part of the 10th Annual AgTech Summit on March 6 in Champaign. The startups will present their business ideas and models to a judging panel of investors. The winner will move on to the Startup World Cup Finale in October, where it will have an opportunity to compete with other regional winners for a $1 million investment. This is the first time the Startup World Cup has included a regional round focused on agriculture and food technology. The following startups have been selected to compete at the Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional: AGTECHLOGIC INC. — Developed Agtellio, an AI solution helping farms reduce chemical use by up to 90%, lowering costs and improving yields while providing actionable insights for asset efficiency. Cattle Care — Uses computer vision with existing security cameras to measure employee efficiency on dairy farms, enabling performance-based compensation and improving workforce productivity. EarthSense, Inc. — Creates AI-powered farming robots targeting labor shortages and rising costs, initially serving oil palm companies in Asia that manage over 10 million hectares. Re-Nuble — Converts vegetative food byproducts into biological fertilizers and peat replacements, helping commercial farms reduce costs and mitigate pathogen risks through lab-tested products. Vivid Machines — Offers tractor-mountable AI cameras providing real-time, per-plant fruit predictions, enabling precise tree-level decisions to increase fruit size and reduce labor costs. Earnest Agriculture — Produces Prairie Power, a probiotic seed coating that improves soil health, delivering a proven 6 percent yield increase for row crop farmers with measurable ROI. Oaken — Building asset management software to streamline farmland management and financing, automating payments, lease management, and relationship tracking. Good Agriculture — Provides AI-powered farm business management that automates back-office tasks, saving farmers 5-10 hours weekly while improving profitability. Integrated Dynamics, Inc. — Developing high-selectivity waste-to-value technology using synthetic biology and high-temperature microbes to convert organic waste into commodity chemicals. UfarmX — Africa’s largest farmer data and procurement platform connecting smallholder farmers to agribusinesses and financial institutions, eliminating middlemen and enhancing supply chain efficiency.   About the AgTech Summit The AgTech Innovation Summit brings together leaders in industry, entrepreneurs, investors, and academics to address pressing agricultural challenges and explore emerging solutions. Hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park, 2025 marks the 10th  edition of this annual event. AgTech is the fastest growing industry cluster in the Research Park, which has 120 companies across 19 buildings on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. To learn more about the AgTech Summit, visit the Research Park website. About the Startup World Cup The Startup World Cup is a global series of startup competitions and conferences powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With over 100 regional events across 60+ countries, the competition culminates in a Grand Finale in Silicon Valley on October 17, 2025, where the top startups from each region will compete for a $1 million investment prize. For a complete list of regional events, visit: Startup World Cup. About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a leading global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, with over $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus supports emerging technology companies worldwide by providing both intellectual and financial capital. They also offer a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large corporations looking to partner with cutting-edge startups. Learn more at Pegasus Tech Ventures.

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Events, Research Park

AgTech Innovation Summit celebrates 10th annual event

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (February 26, 2025) – The 10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit will take place at the University of Illinois Research Park on Thursday, March 6 at the Illinois Conference Center. The AgTech Summit explores how technology solutions are addressing some of the most significant challenges facing agriculture today, at one of the nation’s premier agtech hubs. This event brings together entrepreneurs, corporate innovators, investors, growers/producers, academics, and more for keynote speakers, panels, award presentations, networking, and more that advance the agtech sector. “Agtech is a very broad sector, one that continues to change and scale in its size and scope,” said Laura Appenzeller, Executive Director, Research Park. “The AgTech Summit is emblematic of that continuous evolution over the past decade. Once a regional event, it now attracts a global audience which recognizes Champaign as an agtech destination.” For the first time, the AgTech Summit will feature a startup pitch competition. The Startup World Cup Agriculture and Food Regional will feature 10 startup finalists who will showcase their ideas in front of a judging panel of investors. The winner will receive travel expenses to compete for a $1 million investment at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in October. The event will feature fireside chats with Allyson Fish, President, Chief Commercial Officer, Precision Fermentation at ADM; Kristin Richards, Director of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and Chris Harbourt and Ken Paige, co-founders of Research Park startup Frenzy Ag. Panel topics include the Circular Bioeconomy: Bioprocessing in all its Applications; the Intersection of AgTech and FinTech; and Pushing the Frontiers of Computing to Solve Grand Challenges in Agriculture. A full agenda can be found online here. The AgTech Summit is hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park and is sponsored by John Deere, AGCO, Frenzy Ag, Illinois College of ACES, Buhler Group, Cooley, GDM, the Illinois/Champaign County Farm Bureau, Intersect Illinois, Pixo, the University of Illinois Foundation, NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region, and Serra Ventures. For more information about the AgTech Summit and press opportunities, contact Laura Bleill.

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EnterpriseWorks, Events, Investments, News, Research Park

Calling AgTech Startups: Apply Now to Pitch at Champaign’s Agriculture and Food Startup World Cup Regional

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A regional qualifier for the global finale of the Startup World Cup will take place as part of the 10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit on March 6 in Champaign. The pitch competition will give 10 entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their ideas at the AgTech Summit, one of the region’s largest and most recognized agtech conferences. The winner will receive travel expenses to compete for a chance to win a $1 million investment at the Startup World Cup competition in October. The application platform will be open until Wednesday, Feb. 5. Startups selected to participate in the regional event will be notified no later than Feb. 12. The Champaign Agriculture and Food Regional is a partnership between Serra Ventures, Gener8tor, the University of Illinois Research Park, Pegasus Tech Ventures and Startup World Cup. Click here to Apply!   About the AgTech Summit The AgTech Innovation Summit brings together leaders in agriculture technology, entrepreneurship, investment, and academia to address pressing agricultural challenges and explore emerging solutions. This interactive conference, occurring March 6, 2025, features dynamic panel discussions, keynote presentations, and valuable networking opportunities. Participants will gain insights into current agricultural technology trends while exploring future innovations that will shape the sector. To register for the 10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit visit the Research Park website. About the Startup World Cup The Startup World Cup is a global series of startup competitions and conferences, powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With over 100 regional events across 60+ countries, the competition culminates in a Grand Finale in Silicon Valley on October 17, 2025, where the top startups from each region will compete for a $1 million investment prize. For a complete list of regional events, visit: Startup World Cup. About Pegasus Tech Ventures Pegasus Tech Ventures is a leading global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, with over $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus supports emerging technology companies worldwide by providing both intellectual and financial capital. They also offer a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large corporations looking to partner with cutting-edge startups. Learn more at Pegasus Tech Ventures.

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Events, Research Park

Registration Open for the 10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit

CHAMPAIGN —  Registration is now open for the 10th Annual AgTech Innovation Summit, taking place Thursday, March 6, 2025. The event will highlight how agtech intersects with other industry sectors of strategic importance to our state and region: biomanufacturing, fintech, renewable energy, and the longer term promise of quantum computing. NEW this year — we will welcome agtech startups for a pitch competition — stay tuned as we roll out more information. 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. Additional AgTech Week events include, the Center for Digital Agriculture Conference, Precision Fermentation Workshops at the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, and more. Participants in the 10th Annual AgTech Summit will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic panels, keynote presentations, and networking sessions focused on agtech’s current landscape and future developments. True to our land grant mission, this event is free thanks to our generous sponsors. 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 usage. A more detailed agenda for the event will be coming soon. Registration is available online here. 

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Events, Research Park

CABBI Celebrates Grand Opening of State-of-the-Art Greenhouse at Research Park

CHAMPAIGN — On Friday, November 15, 2024, CABBI leadership and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign officials gathered to celebrate the opening of the Plant Biology Innovation Greenhouse at 1902 S Fourth St. in the Research Park. The $252.5 million, U.S. Department of Energy-funded, facility marks a major milestone for the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) mission to drive scientific discoveries and technologies that support an economically viable and sustainable domestic biofuel and bioproduct industry. “This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to our commitment at this university to advancing research and innovation that addresses grand challenges in our world, sustainable energy solutions being among those,” said John Coleman, Provost and Executive Chancellor for Academic Affairs at U. of. I “This greenhouse will provide researchers with the advanced tools and intellectual environment they need to continue to make valuable advances in their work.” The newly completed greenhouse incorporates energy-efficient design and cutting-edge technology, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. It includes a solar panel array, a plant phenotyping facility, walk-in growth rooms, and space for future expansion. “We’re really excited about having this stable isotope facility because it allows us to deeply investigate the interactions between plants, microbes, and soil,” said Wendy Yang, Professor of Plant Biology and Geology and CABBI’s Sustainability Theme Leader. The greenhouse will serve as a research hub for faculty and students from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, the Grainger College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. It will also provide undergraduate experiential learning opportunities through CABBI’s Research Internship in Sustainable Bioenergy, RISE. Since its groundbreaking in September 2023, the CABBI greenhouse has been heralded as a game-changer for sustainable bioenergy research in Illinois and beyond. The innovative structure exemplifies the university’s commitment to tackling global challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge facilities. The event featured remarks by Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs John Coleman, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis, and Research Park Executive Director Laura Appenzeller, along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the facility’s official opening.

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EnterpriseWorks, Events, Research Park

Cache Energy expands with new manufacturing hub in Champaign

EnterpriseWorks startup Cache Energy has expanded its operations into a 10,000-square-foot warehouse at 301 E. Mercury Drive in north Champaign. The new facility will serve as a dedicated manufacturing warehouse, where Cache will build its limestone-based long-term energy storage from scratch, including mechanical and electrical components. Currently, the company can produce one ton of energy storage material per hour, and it plans to expand further in the coming months. “The whole purpose of getting this warehouse was expanding our manufacturing and making Champaign-Urbana the hub in the Midwest region where we manufacture and ship around our products,”Arpit Dwivedi, founder and CEO, said. With this expansion, Dwivedi anticipates creating 20 to 25 new jobs in the Champaign-Urbana area. Cache Energy develops safe-to-install and transportable long-duration energy storage solutions utilizing technology inspired by thermal power plants, allowing an easier transition to clean energy. Its scalable, cost-effective storage can support the shift to renewable energy by storing grid electricity and capturing biogas energy from wastewater treatment plants and landfills, which would otherwise go to waste.

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Community, EnterpriseWorks, Events, Graduates, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

Inaugural Founders Week at Research Park Celebrates Illinois Entrepreneurship 

Inaugural Founders Week at Research Park Celebrates Illinois Entrepreneurship CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (October 21, 2024) – The inaugural Founders Week, held Oct. 17-19 at Research Park, was an inspiring celebration of innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Entrepreneurship is a team sport,” said EnterpriseWorks Director of Entrepreneurship Gerald Wilson. “Founders Week is a recognition that we are all co-founders of the future of Illini Entrepreneurship.” Wilson was a key proponent in organizing the event, working closely with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Illinois Ventures, the Technology Entrepreneur Center, and more partners across campus. Founders Week highlighted the university’s role in fostering groundbreaking ventures, which consistently ranks in the top five nationally for number of companies founded, founders, and capital raised. The event brought together founders, Illini Angels, active investors, ecosystem leaders, faculty, and students interested in entrepreneurship. View the event booklet for more event highlights and relevant resources Thursday, October 17 The Founders Week celebration kicked off with a Summit on Capitalizing New Ventures on Thursday, Oct. 17. Speakers led discussions on capital formation, attraction, and allocation to fund companies. The Summit was followed by a Founders Sandbox at, including a pitch workshop. Simultaneously, a campus tour took attendees through spaces on campus that are inventing the future, including the Institute of Genomic Biology, the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab, and EnterpriseWorks. That evening, the first “live” TechRise pitch competition in central Illinois invited historically underrepresented founders to compete for a $25,000 cash prize. Finalists included. Finalist: Oscar Azofeifa, PowerBox Technology, CEO Finalist: Aryan Indarapu, AVEA Robotics, CEO Finalist: Shrikar Lekkala, MetaFrazo, CEO & Founder Finalist: Ohm Vyas, ShotHawk, Co-Founder Winner: Tessabella Magliochetti, AmnioAlert, President & Co-Founder Thursday’s events concluded with EnterpriseWorks’ 20th Anniversary Homecoming Dinner. Friday, October 18 On Friday morning, Illini Angels held its meeting to foster community for experienced entrepreneurs and investors who invest in and mentor Illini founders. If you are interested in learning more about or joining this group, contact Paul Magelli. Later that morning, the Founders Technology Showcase began. This all-day event included panels, fireside chats, and more highlighting the hottest technologies being spun out of university research labs. Following the Founders Technology Showcase, a networking reception and startup expo allowed participants to meet more companies and turn Illini pride into a connected community Saturday, October 19 The final day of Founders Week included an Illinois Football Tailgate at EnterpriseWorks preceding the Illinois football game against Michigan at 2:30 p.m. Find more event photography in the Founders Week media gallery.

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Events, Recognition & Awards, Research Park

Caterpillar Celebrates 25 Years of Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, Illinois (Sept. 3, 2024) – Caterpillar Inc. today marked a significant milestone at the University of Illinois Research Park – 25 years of the Champaign Innovation Center. Caterpillar first opened an office at the Urbana-Champaign campus in 1999 to work with Caterpillar product groups, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) and University departments. Since that time, the Champaign Innovation Center has developed into a leading engineering hub for virtual product development, advanced simulation, data analytics and design solutions, while simultaneously contributing to Caterpillar’s recruiting efforts and talent pipeline building. “We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Research Park,” said Otto Breitschwerdt, Caterpillar Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President. “The Champaign Innovation Center is a place where academia and industry meet, and these diverse perspectives result in the development of new and exciting technologies.” Caterpillar has engaged students across campus to tackle the company’s core innovation challenges, providing experiential learning opportunities through an apprenticeship approach. Students learn and grow alongside full-time Caterpillar professionals in Champaign and on site at other company locations. The model has provided a blueprint replicated by many other corporate innovation centers at Research Park. “This milestone anniversary signifies the deeply intentional and impactful relationship between Caterpillar and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, truly one of our cornerstone industry partners,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “As we look ahead to the future of innovation, we are confident that, together, we can provide opportunities for the next generation of talent and technology.”The company marked the anniversary with a celebration at its Research Park offices, bringing back past interns and company alumni. About Caterpillar Inc. With 2023 sales and revenues of $67.1 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html. About the Research Park at the University of Illinois The Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub that cultivates startups and advances corporate innovation. Within the Research Park there are 120 companies employing both students and full-time technology professionals. More information at researchpark.illinois.edu.

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Community, Events, Research Park

Research Park Softball League: Caterpillar wins championship in dramatic finish

The Research Park Softball League concluded with a memorable championship game on Monday, July 29. After a season of spirited competition and camaraderie among the 149 participants, the Champaign Caterpillar Innovation Center team emerged victorious in the tournament-style bracket, featuring six teams. This year’s final match was nothing short of spectacular. In a remarkable display of perseverance, the Caterpillar team was down 9-2 in the second inning. However, they staged a comeback, ending with a walk-off three-run homer from Alex Brockcamp. Brockcamp’s game-winning hit secured their victory and provided them with a full-season winning streak, having not lost a single game throughout the season. The final score reflected their hard-fought effort and earned them the championship title, making this win especially notable just before their 25th-anniversary celebration. The league’s growth and success in fostering a strong sense of community among participants from various companies were evident throughout the season. All teams’ dedication and hard work were commendable; each team displayed exceptional skill, sportsmanship, and determination, making every game an exciting contest. “The Research Park softball league is an excellent opportunity to build camaraderie between full-time and student employees alike,” said John Deere Technology Innovation Center‘s James Kabbes, the 2024 softball league commissioner. “I love seeing employees learn the rules for the first time, practice with their teammates, and compete in friendly games against other companies in the park.” Special thank you to all the companies who participated in the Softball League:

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