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    Community Events News Research Park

    Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend Returns, With Courses Running Through Research Park

    Research Park will play a critical role in the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, April 29-30, which returns to the scene after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic. Course alterations for 2022 have given the Research Park a more prominent role in the races. Runners will spend a significant amount of time traversing the Research Park especially in the 10K and half marathon. All events, including the 5K on Friday night, will feature a starting line in the Research Park. Participants also will be parking in Research Park parking lots. Find race info here.  While Saturday mornings are typically quiet days in the Research Park, employees are advised that will be difficult to get in and out of the park on April 30. Want to participate? Find more info on how to run, and how to volunteer, on the Illinois Race Weekend website. 

    Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend Returns, With Courses Running Through Research Park Read Post »

    Community Events News Research Park

    OnRamp Agriculture Conference Moves to Champaign-Urbana, Hub of AgTech Innovation

    Event Facilitates Matchmaking, Learning and Networking for Startups, Investors, and Industry Partners CHAMPAIGN – April 12, 2022 – A coalition of Central Illinois partners have banded together to bring one of the nation’s premier AgTech startup conferences to Champaign. gener8tor will host the third annual OnRamp Agriculture Conference on Tuesday, July 26 at the State Farm Center. The curated one-day event includes three programming tracks for attendees designed to facilitate deal making and strategic partnerships among startups, corporations, and investors in the ag and food space. This year’s conference is presented by Cooperative Ventures, the University of Illinois Research Park, Serra Ventures, and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “Moving the OnRamp Agriculture Conference to Champaign was a goal we have had for some time, as our community is a magnet for truly disruptive innovations in the ag and food industries,” said Dennis Beard, managing partner at Serra Ventures. “Collaboration and cooperation are innate to our community’s culture and represent two of our signature values. We look forward to bringing others into the fold.” The conference is expected to draw hundreds of attendees to Champaign, reaping a significant economic impact for the community. The OnRamp Agriculture Conference adds another dimension to the already robust AgTech ecosystem in Champaign-Urbana, which includes: A land-grant institution steeped in innovation, across the value chain of agriculture. Champaign-based VC firm Serra Ventures announced its $45 million AgTech Fund in February. The University of Illinois Research Park is home to multiple ag-centric corporate innovation centers as well as AgTech startups. Parkland College is recognized as the #2 Precision Agriculture community college in the country and has been awarded four National Science Foundation grants for their innovative AgTech programming. Each March, the community hosts its own AgTech week; the centerpiece of that week is the AgTech Innovation Summit, programmed since 2016. The Illinois AgTech Accelerator, which recruits internationally, is also a gener8tor program. Launched in 2020, it is now hosting its third cohort and its portfolio companies have raised $20M to date. Unique to OnRamp, the Startup Track features curated one-on-one pitch sessions between startups and corporations. OnRamp matches the selected startups with corporate venture capital and innovation executives from participating organizations to discuss potential customer relationships, strategic partnerships and, if appropriate, investment opportunities. AgTech investment continues to experience exponential growth. According to Pitchbook, the sector saw $10.5 billion invested in 2021, a 58.6% increase from the previous year and more than double the 2019 value. The capital was invested across 751 deals. To learn more about the 2022 OnRamp Agriculture Conference and to register for the event, visit https://onrampagricultureconference.com/. About AgTech in Champaign-Urbana: Champaign-Urbana has long been a hub for technology as well as agriculture. In the past decade, those two paths have converged, paving the way for the community to become an epicenter for AgTech. Champaign-Urbana’s robust AgTech ecosystem includes the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Parkland College, corporate innovation partners, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, the Illinois AgTech Accelerator, and more. Learn more at https://yourewelcomecu.com/agtech/. About the OnRamp Agriculture Conference: The OnRamp Agriculture Conference brings together the agriculture and food industries’ leading corporations, investors, and startups. The conference highlights innovations disrupting agriculture and the future of food, the leaders making such innovations possible and how new technologies and business models will reinvent the industry. 

    OnRamp Agriculture Conference Moves to Champaign-Urbana, Hub of AgTech Innovation Read Post »

    Events News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    2022 AgTech Summit has Successful In-Person Return

    The 2022 Agriculture Technology Innovation Summit was a success yet again, bringing together the biggest agriculture companies and brightest minds in agtech for the seventh year in a row; this time returning to an in-person convention and garnering local media attention.  This year, Research Park held its AgTech Student Career Mixer prior to the AgTech Innovation Summit on Tuesday, March 8. This event allowed agtech professionals to connect with University of Illinois students, and engage in meaningful discussion and networking with one another on the night before the summit.  This year’s event included remarks from university and industry leaders including Chancellor Robert Jones, who delivered the opening remarks. In his speech, Chancellor Jones emphasized that “whatever the future of agricultural innovation and development may lead this world, the path of that future is going to be running right through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and East Central Illinois.”  The 2022 panels included discussions on the agriculture supply chain, the ag sector’s role in carbon markets,  investment, and RIPE project updates. 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 AgTech Summit is a collaboration between the University of Illinois Research Park, the University of Illinois College of ACES, and the Office of Corporate Relations. Thank you to all those from the local agriculture community as well as others from across the country that attended the event. Another thank you to the moderators and panelists for sharing your time and talents. Last but not least, thanks to the AgTech 2022 sponsors who made this year’s event possible:  John Deere, World Business Chicago, the Illinois Center for Digital Agriculture, Granular, Corteva, Bayer, ADM, AGCO, Sikich, and Cargill.  This year’s event garnered lots of local news attention: March 9, WCIA: AgTech Innovation Summit March 9, Brownfield: Vertical Integration has farmer/brewer less concerned about inflation February 23, Speaker RFD Profit Watch  For this year’s agenda, look below. And don’t forget to save the date for next year’s Agriculture Innovation Technology Summit on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. AGTECH 2022 AGENDA  7:30 AM REGISTRATION OPENS  8:00 AM WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS  Laura Appenzeller | Executive Director, University of Illinois Research Park  Chancellor Robert Jones | Chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  8:15 AM OPENING REMARKS FROM ACES  Germán Bollero | Interim Dean, University of Illinois College of ACES  8:30 AM THE AG SECTOR’S ROLE IN CARBON MARKETS  Chris Harbourt | Chief Strategy Officer, Indigo Ag  Moderator: Jed Taylor | Executive Director, Technology Entrepreneur Center  9:00 AM MORNING FIRESIDE CHAT  Tami Craig Schilling | North America Knowledge Transfer Lead, Bayer  Moderator: Laura Appenzeller | Executive Director, University of Illinois Research Park  9:30 AM CARBON NEUTRAL FLOUR BUSINESS  James Scher | Director of Sales, Specialty Solutions, ADM  Maneephan Keeratiurai | Director, Food Science and Wholesome Nutrition. ADM  Moderator: Katheryne Rehberg | Director Of Business Development,  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  10:00 AM REALIZING INCREASED PHOTOSYNTHETIC EFFICIENCY (RIPE) UPDATE  Stephen Long | Director, Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE)  10:15 AM BREAK  10:30 FIRESIDE CHAT  Tim Hassinger | CEO & President, IntelinAir  Moderator: Kim Kidwell | Associate Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, University of Illinois  11:00 AM GLEN “GB” BRANDT PRIZE FOR AG ENTREPRENEURISM  11:15 AM NAVIGATING THE AGRICULTURE SUPPLY CHAIN  Martha Montoya | CEO, AgTools  Moderator: Jack Marck | Managing Director, Illinois AgTech Accelerator  11:45 AM NAVIGATING THE AGRICULTURE SUPPLY CHAIN  Patrick McEniry | Vice President-Crops, Commodities & Ingredients, Treehouse Foods  Moderator:  Germán Bollero | Interim Dean, University of Illinois College of ACES  12:15 PM LUNCH  12:45 PM TECH STRATEGY TO DRIVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE  Mark Theuerkauf | Director, Strategy and Transformation, AGCO  Moderator: Susan Martinis | Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, University of Illinois  1:15 PM AFTERNOON FIRESIDE CHAT  Bill Hamer | Carbon Strategy and Operations Manager, Corteva  Moderator: Gene Robinson | Director, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology , University of Illinois  1:45 PM MOORE INNOVATION PRIZE AND STARTUP PRESENTATION  2:00 PM BREAK  2:15 PM LIGHTNING CHAT  Girish Chowdhary | Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, EarthSense  2:30 PM AFTERNOON FIRESIDE CHAT  Matt Hancher | Engineering Lead, Google Earth and Earth Engine, Google  Moderator:  Brendan McGinty | Director of Industry, National Center for Supercomputing Applications  3:00 PM INVESTMENT IN AGTECH  Dennis Beard | Partner, Serra Ventures  Moderator: Carly McCrory-McKay | Executive Director, Champaign County Economic Development Corporation  3:30  PM INVESTMENT IN AGTECH  Aaron Rudberg | Managing Director and COO, S2G Ventures  Moderator: Tom Parkinson | Senior Director, Illinois Ventures  4:00 – 5:30 PM AGTECH SHOWCASE & NETWORKING RECEPTION 

    2022 AgTech Summit has Successful In-Person Return Read Post »

    Events News Research Park

    AGCO Announces Expansion of its Research Park Acceleration Center

    CHAMPAIGN — AGCO Corporation announced today that it has completed the expansion of its AGCO Acceleration Center at the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana Research Park. AGCO is a global leader and manufacturer of agriculture equipment and technology. AGCO Corporation delivers agricultural solutions to farmers worldwide through a full line of tractors, combine harvesters, hay and forage equipment, seeding and tillage implements, grain storage and protein production systems. The AGCO Acceleration Center employs undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of backgrounds and talents to focus on developing new-to-market solutions and advanced technologies. “Simply stated our passion for farmers is at the heart of everything that we do, that’s why we are so excited to deepen our connection to the AgTech hub of the Midwest in Champaign, Illinois through the expansion of the AGCO Acceleration Center,” said Eric Hansotia, Chairman, President and CEO, AGCO Corporation. The AGCO Acceleration Center started under the leadership of the company’s Grain & Protein division to help farmers protect their harvest and their animals to feed a growing world population. AGCO’s research and innovation in Champaign has since expanded to encompass all product areas. “Farmers are facing tremendous challenges and we believe Innovation is critical to helping them improve productivity and sustainability. It’s why I’m proud to see the AGCO Acceleration Center grow and flourish. The work done here will lead to the next generation of smart solutions to help farmers feed the world,” said Stefan Caspari, Senior Vice President, Grain & Protein, AGCO Corporation. The expansion increases intern capacity to 80 workstations with a cutting-edge Maker Lab for prototyping and collaborative work.  The AGCO Corporation Research Park facility first opened in August 2017 and has employed over 300 interns at the facility since its inception. “At AGCO are passionate about developing leaders and are lucky that so many of them are influenced by the remarkable thought leadership that takes place here in Central Illinois,” said Ivory Harris, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Office, AGCO Corporation. The site is managed by site director, Misha Shah, Senior Manager, Global University Relations for AGCO, and MBA alumna of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana who also oversees global internship programs and University Relations for the company. “The incredible growth of the Acceleration Center would not be possible without our local partners here in the Midwest. The innovation, research and development that takes place in this ecosystem is best in class and propels AGCO forward in many ways. I am humbled by the incredible AgTech community that Champaign has brought together and excited for the bright future of the AGCO Acceleration Center,” said Misha Shah.   About AGCO AGCO (NYSE:AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers customer value through its differentiated brand portfolio including core brands like Challenger®, Fendt®, GSI®, Massey Ferguson® and Valtra®. Powered by Fuse® smart farming solutions, AGCO’s full line of equipment and services help farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of $11.1 billion in 2021. For more information, visit www.AGCOcorp.com. For company news, information and events, please follow us on Twitter: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSA7ic4Ie0

    AGCO Announces Expansion of its Research Park Acceleration Center Read Post »

    Community EnterpriseWorks Features News Research Park

    SNOOZ Co-Founder Eli Lazar Talks Journey to Success on “Innovations” Podcast

    It started with an idea. SNOOZ is a consumer electronics company that focuses on controlling airflow and acoustics to turn a bedroom into a haven for sleep. SNOOZ’s flagship product is a white noise machine and they are currently in 2000 hotel rooms around the country. Host Tanmay Shaw interviews SNOOZ co-founder and CTO Eli Lazar. Tune in to this episode to hear about Eli’s journey from UIUC student to CTO, his inspiration to create this product, and what’s on his roadmap for the future of the company. SNOOZ incubated at EnterpriseWorks in the Research Park. “When you’re first starting off [Enterpriseworks] helps to get the word out about what you’re doing and helps kickstart campaigns,” Lazar said, while reflecting on his time and experience at EnterpriseWorks. Lazar also cited networking events such as the  Champaign-Urbana Tech CEO Roundtable as being a significant boost in the early days of the company, and how important it is to be connected to other founders and cofounders of startups. The Innovations @ Research Park podcast highlights the thriving entrepreneurial and corporate innovation culture in Champaign. Its host is Tanmay Shah, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus. To listen to the podcast, visit iTunes Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to download your podcasts. 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).

    SNOOZ Co-Founder Eli Lazar Talks Journey to Success on “Innovations” Podcast Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    FrostDefense Awarded 2022 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize

    Champaign, Illinois (March 10, 2022) – FrostDefense Envirotech Inc., a startup company developing technological solutions to prevent frost damage at vineyards, is the recipient of the 2022 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize. The award, generously funded by a family of University of Illinois alumni, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations. The Research Park together with the Moore family presented the award to FrostDefense founder Manfredo Seufferheld and vice president Gabriel Burks during the 2022 AgTech Innovation Summit at the Colonnades Club at Memorial Stadium. The company’s scientists work out of a lab and office at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the Research Park. FrostDefense Envirotech Inc. is a National Science Foundation-funded startup company. The team develops innovative, environmentally friendly, and low-cost technological solutions to prevent frost damage for vineyards. They also work to make labor management and mechanized farm operations more efficient. Its predictive analytic system is the foundation for continued innovation in creating tools and services to support decision-making to adapt to growing practices and sustainability. The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize’s goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in the development of new innovative technologies that may lead to increased productivity and/or efficiency in farming, or to create new agricultural opportunities, including new processes, new crops, and new food production systems. Previous Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund winners include:Epivara, 2021Habiterre (formerly Aspiring Universe), 2020TellTail, 2019EarthSense, 2018Soil Diagnostics, 2017 For more information about Frost Defense, visit its website here. About the Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois  Urbana-Champaign’s technology incubator. The award honors the legacy of Edwin E. Moore (1924), who graduated from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture and began farming in Will County. Throughout his agricultural career, he and his wife, Iva, used innovative farming practices for both crop production and livestock management. Two of their four children became farmers, Edwin and Thomas (1953, College of Agriculture), and continued use of innovative farm practices. Subsequent generations of Edwin Moore’s family have continued to pursue farming and ag related careers capturing the same innovative spirit. 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. 

    FrostDefense Awarded 2022 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize Read Post »

    Community News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Matt Riggs Wins 2022 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism

    Champaign, Illinois (March 10, 2022) —  Matt Riggs of Riggs Beer Company has been named the recipient of this year’s Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism, an award that honors a grower/producer/farmer who exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit and advances innovation through their business practices.  Riggs’ nomination highlighted these qualities as a farmer, brewery owner, and entrepreneur. “Faced with the challenge of preserving his family’s 142 year old farming legacy, Matt successfully created a brand new, high-margin market,” wrote Riggs’ nominator, Prof. Adam Davis, a faculty member in the department of Crop Sciences. “Since founding his brewery in 2016, his farm and brewery have vertically integrated over 155,000 pounds of brewing grain, making them the Midwest’s #1 volume “grain to glass” brewery.” The award was announced at the 2022 AgTech Innovation Summit, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. It was presented to Riggs by Karl Barnhart, Chief Marketing Officer of BRANDT.  Riggs said he will use the award’s $10,000 prize to buy the farm its own grain cleaner, equipment the farm has either contracted or leased previously. “The past two years have reinforced the importance of being both flexible and lean. Small farms, and small businesses in general, can remain competitive if they are able to rapidly adapt to change. They can also compete against larger competitors if they have extremely limited fixed costs,” said Riggs. Matt graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Technical System Management in 2006. His company supports the University’s crop science program by purchasing specialty, University-licensed wheat and corn seed. His company is currently donating the use of farmland for a small brewing grains test plot located at his brewery in Urbana.  Learn more about Riggs Beer Company here. 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. The award’s first winner was Will Glazik, a farmer in Paxton.  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. 

    Matt Riggs Wins 2022 Glen “GB” Brandt Prize for Ag Entrepreneurism Read Post »

    Community Events News Research Park

    AgTech Innovation Summit Returns to the “Epicenter of AgTech”

    Champaign — A unique blend of industry leaders, investors, academics, growers/producers, and startups will convene for the seventh annual AgTech Innovation Summit on Wednesday, March 9, hosted by the University of Illinois Research Park. This daylong, free conference includes speakers across each one of those areas who contribute to advancements in agtech. This year’s event features in-depth conversations designed to extract ideas from multiple thought leaders. Attendees will explore how technology solutions are addressing some of the most significant challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today, including investment in startups, supply chain, carbon, workforce, and more. “We are thrilled to welcome our conference guests back to Champaign-Urbana,” said Laura Appenzeller, executive director of the University of Illinois Research Park. “This is a location that has cemented its place in the history of agriculture innovation like few others. More significantly, it has agtech at the heart of its future.” What started as a regional conference has grown into an event that attracts participants nationally and globally. Registrants hail from 26 states as well as representatives from other countries. The event will be held Although the conference is in-person this year, a livestream will be available via Research Park’s YouTube channel. Some highlights of the agenda include fireside chats with: Chris Harbourt, Chief Strategy Officer of Indigo Ag, discussing carbon markets; Tami Craig Schilling, North America Knowledge Transfer Lead, discussing her career journey into agtech; Tim Hassinger, CEO of IntelinAir, discussing the company’s growth from EnterpriseWorks startup graduate; Aaron Rudberg, Managing Director and COO of S2G Ventures, discussing agtech investment trends. The generous sponsors who make the AgTech Summit possible include John Deere, World Business Chicago, AGCO, Bayer, Corteva AgriScience, ADM, Cargill,  Sikich LLP, and the Center for Digital Agriculture. 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. 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.

    AgTech Innovation Summit Returns to the “Epicenter of AgTech” Read Post »

    Community Events News Research Park

    Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week Returns with In-Person and Virtual Events

    CHAMPAIGN, IL – The annual Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week, presented by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, and You’re Welcome CU, will return for its third event in 2022 with both in-person and virtual events.  The five-day event, March 7-11, celebrates Champaign-Urbana’s robust AgTech ecosystem, including the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Parkland College, corporate innovation partners, startups, state-of-the-art facilities, student organizations, local ag companies, the Illinois AgTech Accelerator, and more. “As one of the nation’s premier AgTech hubs, Champaign-Urbana is uniquely positioned to convene entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and industry leaders for learning and networking, which results in more connectivity across this sector,” said Laura Bleill, Director of External Engagement at University of Illinois Research Park. Participating organizations include Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Serra Ventures, Parkland College, Illinois AgTech Accelerator, Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL), Early College and Career Academy (ECCA), UIUC’s College of Aces and Corporate Relations, gener8tor, and many others. The schedule of events includes: Women in AgTech Panel Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) – One-on-One Tours & Meetings AgTech Student Career Mixer AgTech Innovation Summit Parkland College AgTech Showcase Lunch & Learn: How to Get Involved in the Illinois AgTech Accelerator “Parkland College is pleased to contribute to and support the vibrant AgTech ecosystem in Champaign-Urbana,” said Stephanie Stuart, Vice President for Communications and External Affairs for Parkland College and Champaign County Economic Development Corporation Board Chair. “Working in partnership with the EDC and the University of Illinois, Parkland College’s Midwest Center for Precision Agriculture supports the needs of industry and local growers by providing the most innovative community college curriculum in the region. Whether students arrive from the family farm or urban center, they will gain hands-on experiences in the field and on the latest equipment in our programs. We look forward to showcasing the next generation of ag workforce training as part of next week’s celebration.” Champaign-Urbana has long been a hub for technology as well as agriculture. In the past decade, those two paths have converged, paving the way for the community to become an “epicenter for AgTech.” “Champaign County comprises approximately 1,000 square miles, the majority of which are involved in agriculture,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director at Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “With resources like the College of ACES, Parkland College, direct access to large grower networks, and access to incredible talent, it’s no wonder companies like John Deere, AGCO, Cargill, Nutrien, and many others choose to locate here – and why companies start here. We look forward to celebrating our AgTech industry next week and working with our many community partners to further advance Champaign-Urbana as a premier AgTech destination.” The full schedule of events can be found online at www.cuagtechweek.com. Registration is required at many events, but all are free to attend.

    Champaign-Urbana AgTech Week Returns with In-Person and Virtual Events Read Post »

    Community News Research Park

    Electric Power Engineers Opens Center for Energy Innovation at University of Illinois Research Park

    Champaign, Illinois (February 18, 2022) – Electric Power Engineers, a global power system engineering and consulting firm, has opened an innovation center at the University of Illinois Research Park, its first operation in the state of Illinois. EPE opened its Center for Energy Innovation to engage closely with engineering, design and business students at the University of Illinois. They will work alongside with leaders and professionals at EPE on projects related to designing solutions for renewable energy including solar, wind, and battery storage solutions, integration, interconnection, transmission and distribution planning and operations, regulatory compliance, grid modernization, distributed energy resources (DER) and energy market analysis and feasibility studies, as well as project management. The students will generate creative solutions through multi-disciplinary collaboration and the exploration and implementation of new and emerging technologies. “We are focused on accelerating EPE’s growth, reach, and excellence to serve a growing need for expertise to ensure our power systems reliably and economically support decarbonization goals,” said Hala Ballouz, president of Electric Power Engineers, LLC. “With an impressive depth of talent from across multiple disciplines, the University of Illinois is an ideal partner for EPE as we grow our footprint and extend the breadth of our skilled talent with new capabilities.” “Our institution is a hotbed of cutting-edge energy research, with an astonishing breadth of expertise—and bringing Electric Power Engineers and the University of Illinois Research Park together is a wonderful way to address global energy challenges,” said Dr. Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “This organic partnership aligns beautifully with our strategic plan vision to making our university and its surrounding region the leading innovation center and testbed for the technologies and services that will enable the safe, healthy, and sustainable communities of the future.” The EPE innovation center opened with a small team. When fully occupied, it will host full-time professionals and University of Illinois student interns, who work year-round. Its internship program is designed to bridge theoretical classroom concepts and hands-on training to overcome real-world challenges, so that EPE interns develop skills to advance professionally and academically. The office is led by Tamer Rousan, Director of Distribution & Grid Modernization at EPE. He holds two degrees from the Grainger College of Engineering at UIUC. The new location will also support the needs of EPE’s clients in the Midwest. About Electric Power Engineers, LLC A leader in grid reliability and resiliency, Electric Power Engineers (EPE) has partnered with power and energy clients across the globe for over 50 years. Offering comprehensive services and proprietary solutions spanning utility engineering, grid and resource integration, reliability and compliance, and software and grid analytics, EPE’s client-centric approach delivers unmatched expertise throughout the project lifecycle. Committed to designing and developing the grid of the future, EPE’s highly experienced team of detail-oriented consultants are passionate about helping clients address complex engineering and grid modeling challenges, bridge gaps, and gain visibility into the evolving complexities of the grid. Learn more about EPE at epeconsulting.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 researchpark5.wpenginepowered.com. Find the Research Park on Twitter at @UIResearchPark.

    Electric Power Engineers Opens Center for Energy Innovation at University of Illinois Research Park Read Post »

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