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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

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    EDA Designates iFAB, Led by University of Illinois, as a Tech Hub Designee

    Today,  the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced it has selected the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (iFAB Tech Hub) as a 2023 Tech Hub Designee. The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (iFAB Tech Hub), led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, seeks to scale precision fermentation to convert underutilized corn feedstocks into high-value, customized alternative proteins, food ingredients, materials, chemicals, and more. By leveraging its regional assets in corn and soy feedstocks, food processing infrastructure, and research leadership, this Tech Hub will provide a domestic biomanufacturing testbed through the development and deployment of multi-use pilot and demonstration capacity and equipment for biomanufacturing innovators while also training a skilled workforce. The iFab consortium’s 30+ partners includes the University of Illinois Research Park as well as industry, higher education, workforce development agencies, agribusiness, and producers. Two of the private sector partners, ADM and Boston Bioprocess, have operations at Research Park. Another partner, gener8tor, leads the Illinois AgTech Accelerator.  The iFAB proposal, one of 400 received by EDA, was made public in August. Receiving the federal designation is an endorsement of the region’s plans to supercharge their respective technological industries to create jobs and promote innovation. This is the first phase of the new Tech Hubs program, a development initiative created to strengthen U.S. economic and national security with investments in regions to become globally competitive in the technologies and industries of the future. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rooted in policies that will empower the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Our Tech Hubs Program is fundamental to that mission and will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st century job opportunities in people’s backyards.” – U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo The second phase will allow each designated hub to apply to receive between $40-70 million each for implementation funding, totaling $500 million. About iFAB iFAB seeks to scale precision fermentation to convert underutilized corn feedstocks into high-value, customized alternative proteins, food ingredients, materials, chemicals, and more. To learn more, visit the iFAB website.

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    Events News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    AGCO Corporation Training Center Groundbreaking at Parkland College

    AGCO Corporation is expanding its imprint on Champaign by introducing the new AGCO Training Center, powered through a partnership with Parkland College. Involved officials gathered to break ground for the center on Parkland College’s campus on Thursday, October 19, 2023. While AGCO has been a part of the University of Illinois Research Park since 2018 through the AGCO Acceleration Center, a demand for trained technicians to work on farm equipment has increased across the country. Plans for the AGCO Training Center were unveiled back in April 2023 by Parkland College President Pam Lau. Parkland received a $5 million donation from AGCO, making the new center possible. The $6 million facility will house a new Service Technician associate in applied science (A.A.S) degree program, which will provide students with instruction specific to AGCO-branded equipment, as well as education in general ag concepts. The program will accept students sponsored by AGCO dealerships. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Lau acknowledged the collaboration with the Champaign Country Economic Development Corporation and The University of Illinois. She also mentioned how the new training center is going to make a meaningful contribution. “This is going to facilitate not just training, but planting seeds for technical labs all around the world…. We will be helping farmers feeding the world and Illinois.” – Parkland College President Pam Lau The AGCO Training Center is expected to be constructed by August 2024. About AGCO AGCO stands out as a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision agriculture technology. Learn more about the AGCO Acceleration Center on its Research Park tenant directory.

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    EnterpriseWorks Graduates News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    VedaBio to Revolutionize Molecular Detection after Tenure as LabSimply at EnterpriseWorks

    VedaBio, a biotechnology company leading a paradigm-shift in molecular detection, launched on October 17, 2023, with initial funding of over $40 million. This company has roots at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and Research Park: VedaBio was formerly known as LabSimply and operated out of EnterpriseWorks from 2021 to 2022. CEO and Co-Founder Anrup Ganguli, PhD, developed multiple research platforms during his time at university in the lab of Professor Rashid Bashir, PhD, Professor of Bioengineering and current Dean of the Grainger College of Engineering. VedaBio is revolutionizing molecular biology with its breakthrough platform for near-instant molecular detection of multiplexed analytes, delivering best-in-class accuracy without the need for target amplification. Their CRISPR Cascade™ platform is poised to emerge as a new gold standard tool to empower decision-making across multiple industries. In the official press release, Ganguli explains that the CRISPR Cascade reaction provides “a platform that delivers near-instant molecular detection of highly multiplexed analytes with best-in-class accuracy, all without the need for target amplification.” He has high hopes for VedaBio, believing “it is poised to emerge as a future gold standard for molecular detection, empowering major advances across multiple applications including research and industrial tools, diagnostics and therapeutics.”  To learn more about VedaBio, read the official press release on the VedaBio website.

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    EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    Boston Bioprocess Helping Nourish Ingredients Make a More Realistic Meat Substitute

    Have you ever bitten into a meat substitute product and find yourself longing for the real deal? The aroma, the flavor, the texture, and the taste of… meat? You’re not alone. EnterpriseWork’s very own Boston Bioprocess is teaming up with Nourish Ingredients to create just that– utilizing wild fungi and yeast strains to trick even the biggest meat lovers into thinking they are consuming a meat product. The secret ingredient? To effectively scale and replicate the most potent fat molecules, the ones responsible for making that irresistible, animalistic aroma that makes your mouth water. In a Food Navigator USA article, it was explained that Boston Bioprocess is not only assisting Nourish Ingredients in developing a more realistic-tasting product but ensuring that the product will meet regulatory requirements as well. The partnership between Boston Bioprocess and Nourish Ingredients is coming after a significant drop in the plant-based protein market. Nourish Ingredients CEO James Petrie hopes to change the downward market trajectory. “In one way [it’s] been healthy for [the industry] in the sense that… there’s a bit of pressure on the plant-based industry at the moment and it’s forcing us to take a collective look at the quality of products,” said Petrie. Boston Bioprocess works to provide their clients with the equipment and expertise they need to improve yield, decrease costs, and access product for commercial testing. Visit their tenant directory to learn more about the company. Read the full Food Navigator feature.

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    Events News Research Park

    Kohler Establishes Innovation Center at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to Impact the Future of Kitchen and Bath

    Kohler Co., a global leader in the innovation and manufacture of plumbing products; tile, cabinetry and lighting; and engines, generators and clean energy solutions, today celebrated the grand opening of the new Kohler Innovation Center at the University of Illinois Research Park. The new center is a reflection of the company’s objective of positively impacting current and future generations through design, craftsmanship, and innovation. The center’s portfolio focuses on areas of interest to Kohler including supply chain optimization strategies; investigating and adapting technology for the factory of the future; and developing a pipeline of engineering and data analytics talent for the company tapped from its student intern program.   “Our partnership with the University of Illinois is a win for Kohler, the university, and students. We are excited about this new facility and the future possibilities of our collaboration,” said Norb Schmidt, Senior Vice President of Kitchen & Bath Operations for Kohler.  “Our commitment here is a genuine investment in our [Kohler’s] future, added Schmidt. Specifically, Kohler’s Research Park location supports research and design efforts related to robotics, electro-mechanical systems, machining, and pneumatic and hydraulic functions. “The Kohler Innovation Center at UIRP provides our students the opportunity to work on solutions for the Midwest and beyond,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Such real-world experiences are examples of the transformative educational opportunities at Illinois that grow from our leadership in engineering, data science, and industrial design.”   The center is hiring several positions and eventually plans to employ up to 25 students. A full-time site manager, Will Newton, supervises the students and serves as liaison between the Kohler Innovation Center at UIRP and the University of Illinois.  Initiatives to cultivate a culture of innovation, including the new campus innovation center at Illinois, supports why Kohler Co. recently landed as a finalist on the Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators list. Download the full press release here. About Kohler Co. For 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in design and innovation, dedicated to providing gracious living through kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile and lighting; distributed energy solutions – home energy, industrial power systems, and powertrain technologies – and luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf. Kohler’s Whistling Straits golf course hosted the 43rd Ryder Cup in 2021. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops solutions to address pressing issues, such as clean water and sanitation, for underserved communities around the world to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.Learn more at kohlercompany.com.

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    Features News Research Park

    EarthSense Terrasentia Robot Featured in Al Jazeera Video Addressing Food Crisis

    EnterpriseWorks startup EarthSense and Vikram Adve, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois, were recently featured in a video that addressed scientists using robots to combat the world’s growing food crisis, produced by international media network Al Jazeera. At the University of Illinois Research Park, EarthSense is creating dramatic new possibilities for crop breeders, plant protection products developers, crop scientists, and field agronomists. TerraSentia, their first robot, improves the quantity, accuracy, cost, and speed of in-field plant trait data collection, specifically for under canopy plants. Instead of waiting for the rest of tech world to come up with a solution to the large-scale problem of food scarcity, the team at EarthSense are developing effective technology to improve the future of farming. Watch the full Al Jezeera feature below. Learn more about EarthSense and their mission here.

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    Events News Research Park

    2023 EDA University Center Showcase Recap

    The 2023 EDA University Center Showcase stretched over two days, Monday, September 12 and Tuesday, September 13, at the Big Ten Conference Center in Rosemont, Illinois, hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign EDA University Center. The showcase featured guest speakers and discussions about broadband access, mapping and building gender-inclusive ecosystems, and coordinating federal, state, and local resources and planning. Monday, September 12: Introductions and networking were conducted over breakfast in the morning, followed by welcoming messages by Susan Brehm, the Regional Director of EDA’s Chicago regional office, and University of Illinois Research Park Executive Director Laura Appenzeller. The remainder of the morning included presentations from a variety of universities including Michigan State University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Cleveland State University, and Purdue University. Afternoon speakers comprised of speakers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Minnesota, and Bowling Green University, as well as a panel discussion ‘Expanding Community Broadband Access,’ moderated by Desiree Clayton, Program Coordinator, University of Illinois Research Park. Joe Thiel, CEO of Innovate Marquette Smartzone and Executive Director OF Invent@NMU, closed out the day with his presentation ‘Innovate Marquette and the Future of Regional Hubs,’ followed by a reception at Crust Brewery. Tuesday, September 13:  The second day of the conference kicked off with announcements from Brehm and Appenzeller, followed by a facilitated panel discussion on ‘EDD, EDO, UC, State Agency Economic Development Coordination’ lead by Appenzeller (also a panelist). Later that morning, presenters from the University of Michigan-Flint and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville spoke. Post-lunch, the afternoon commenced with speaker Michael Fassnacht, Chief Marketing Officer for The City of Chicago and President and CEO of World Business Chicago. Next, Research Park’s Appenzeller and EDA University Center Program Manager Cheri Soliday teamed up to discuss technology-based economic development and high-growth entrepreneurship efforts in Illinois. Yittayuh Zelalem of the Unviersity of Illinois Chicago then presented on regional strategies to enhance green economic vitality, followed by Shannon Discroll of the Cleveland State University Center for Economic Development discussing policy highlights in U.S. innovation districts. The showcase concluded with a panel hosted by Brehm, detailing U.S. Economic Development Administration Program Updates.

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    Events News Research Park

    CABBI Greenhouse Groundbreaking at Research Park

    On Wednesday, September 28, 2023, officials gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new greenhouse that will support CABBI research at the construction site located at 1902 South Fourth Street on the Research Park campus. CABBI is a $252.5M U.S. Department of Energy-funded Bioenergy Research Center.  It aims to provide the scientific discoveries and new technologies to develop an economically viable and ecologically sustainable domestic biofuel and bioproducts industry from dedicated bioenergy crops.  The greenhouse was designed with energy efficiency at the forefront and will create research and teaching opportunities for faculty and students across three colleges, including: the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), the Grainger College of Engineering, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). The planned structure will feature a solar panel array, a plant phenotyping facility, and walk-in growth rooms, plus room for potential future expansion. “It will benefit an incredibly diverse group of people — from experts in gene editing and plant physiology to artificial intelligence and crop breeding — as they work together to develop a profitable and sustainable future for agriculture in Illinois and the Midwest,” said CABBI director Andrew Leakey. Undergraduates will also benefit through CABBI’s Research Internship in Sustainable Bioenergy (RISE), targeted at students from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM fields, Leakey added. Remarks at the ceremonial groundbreaking were given by Leaky, Susan Martinis (Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation), and Laura Appenzeller (University of Illinois Research Park Executive Director). The state-of-the-art greenhouse is expected to be completed by summer 2024.

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    Community News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Sen. Tammy Duckworth Highlights Efforts to Promote Illinois Innovation at Research Park Visit

    U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth visited the Research Park on Friday, Sept. 8 for a lively fireside chat discussing innovation, global impact, and Illinois’s role in developing emerging technologies. The panel discussion featured Grainger College of Engineering Dean Rashid Bashir, Prof. Shaloo Rakheja, and moderator John Reid, a clinical faculty member at Illinois who has significant ties to two companies with deep roots at UIRP. “As a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and technology, Illinois is the ideal location for greater investment from international business, and I’m committed to helping bring home the kinds of investments that create good-paying jobs and strengthen our state’s economy,” Duckworth said. “As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am dedicated to promoting Illinois on a global level—which includes much of the groundbreaking research and innovation happening right here at U of I. Illinois is ready to help bring our world into the future—and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure the whole world knows it.” Senator Duckworth encouraged students to “blur [their] boundaries.” The idea of blurring boundaries is integral to Research Park, where students from various disciplines work together on project teams. Senator Duckworth continued this advice: “Don’t think of a specific area as ‘my area’…If you allow yourself the opportunity to follow your own interest wherever it leads you, that space is where  you will be the most productive.” The event also included a meet-and-greet with the Senator and s’mores by the Atkins Building firepit. The University of Illinois is one of America’s leading research universities, and the Research Park plays an instrumental role in the research sphere. “From the farm of the future to the wheelchair of the future, our scientists and engineers are hard at work, imagining what’s next,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois and principal officer of the Research Park Board of Managers. To learn more about the event, read the full press release on Senator Tammy Duckworth’s website or the recap by the Grainger College of Engineering. See the photos on our media gallery. 

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    EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    University of Illinois Ranked 15th in Top 100 Global Universities Ranked by Startup Founders

    The University of Illinois was ranked 15th in PitchBook’s annual university rankings list for alumni startup founders who have raised venture capital in the last decade. This list profiles global universities who have “truly exceptional track record of attracting and producing future entrepreneurs.” The rankings are determined based on PitchBook data analyzing more than 150,000 venture capital-backed founders. Additional ratings for the University of Illinois include: #3 in capital raised among U.S. public institutions #5 in graduate alumni founders among  U.S. public institutions #5 in undergraduate alumni founders among U.S. public institutions #7 in female alumni founders among U.S. public institutions UIUC alumni-founded companies have raised $20.8B through companies including Generate, GRAIL, Farmers Business Network, Heyday, and Plus. For more information and the complete list, visit the PitchBook website.

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