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    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).

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    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. 

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    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. 

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    Community Features News Research Park

    Disrupting the Marine Industry with Tech: Podcast Explores Brunswick I-Jet Lab

    The latest episode of the Innovations @ Research Park podcast features the intern experience at the Brunswick I-Jet Lab, an innovation center focused on implementing technology solutions to advance the recreational marine industry. Host Tanmay Shaw facilitates a discussion with Trevor George, Site Director for the Brunswick Corporation’s I-JET Lab; and Meghan Reynolds, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign computer science/philosophy major, who is a software engineering intern. The Brunswick I-Jet Lab at the University of Illinois Research Park works on prototypes to modernize and improve customer experience. Brunswick is an industry leader in the marine space. The company, based in northern Illinois, manufactures recreational boats, marine engines, and other products. Tune in to this episode to hear about what Brunswick works on at the Research Park, the company’s recent CES Show display and how interns participated in its development, and the overall intern experience. 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).

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    Community EnterpriseWorks Features News Research Park

    Innovations @ Research Park Podcast: The Importance of Design with Designer-in-Residence Deana McDonagh

    Episode 8 of the Innovations @ Research Park podcast features EnterpriseWorks Designer-in-Residence and University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Professor Deana McDonagh. Dr. McDonagh is an experienced strategist who works with EnterpriseWorks startups to help them incorporate design thinking in their development workflow, in order to improve user experience and create delightful products. Tune in to the episode to hear about her journey, perspective on design in tech, and what kind of support she offers to  entrepreneurs at EnterpriseWorks. You can catch this episode of Innovations @ Research Park on iTunes Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else you may prefer to listen to your podcasts.  Do you have questions about Research Park? Have an idea for a guest for the show, or a story we should pursue? Do you want to provide other feedback? Contact Laura Bleill (lwbleill@illinois.edu)

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    EnterpriseWorks Media Mentions News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Newsweek Names PSYONIC CEO One of America’s Top 50 Disruptors

    Aadeel Akhtar, CEO of EnterpriseWorks startup PSYONIC, was named one of America’s Top 50 disruptors by Newsweek magazine. 2021 marks the first year the magazine has created such a list. It includes the likes of household names such as Elon Musk and Lizzo, as well as CEOs, scientists, engineers, artists, musicians and others. “…  (A)ll of these … visionaries and innovators on Newsweek‘s inaugural list of Greatest Disruptors share this critical quality: They are agents of change who are using technology in ways that will profoundly impact our lives—mostly or wholly for the better,” wrote the magazine in its introduction to the package. The publication recognized Akhtar for his leadership in creating groundbreaking prosthetic devices. “When Aadeel Akhtar was 7 years old, he met a little girl who changed his life. His parents took him to see family in Pakistan, where they’d been born, and they were walking into a store when he saw her,” writes Newsweek reporter Ned Potter. “She was missing her right leg.” PSYONIC’s premiere product, the Ability Hand, was released in 2019. The Ability Hand is the first commercially available prosthetic hand to include multitouch sensory feedback. The device utilizes electrical currents to stimulate nerves allowing users to “feel”  what the prosthetic touches. Akhtar launched PSYONIC in 2015 and the company moved into EnterpriseWorks in 2018. Newsweek highlighted many talented individuals in the “America’s Greatest Disruptors” series. “We’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, but also making them accessible and leveling the playing field for all those people who couldn’t get access to this kind of technology before,” Akhtar says in the Newsweek article. Earlier this year, Akhtar was named to the MIT Technology Review’s list of 35 Innovators Under 35 for 2021. Akhtar received his PhD in Neuroscience and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois.

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    Features Media Mentions News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Starfire Industries Named a Top 10 Non-Destructive Testing Company

    Starfire Industries was named one of 2021’s top 10 non-destructive testing companies by Manufacturing Outlook Magazine. Based at the University of Illinois Research Park, the company specializes in innovative plasma engineering across a range of markets, including aerospace, defense, nuclear, homeland security, and manufacturing semiconductors. Starfire Industries uses a process that combines physics, math, chemistry, and biology to create a strategy for inspecting, examining, and testing materials for flaws, defects, and more. “Starfire Industries’ portable particle accelerators and neutron generators are not only enabling greater particle utilization for inspection and testing but also lowering the cost of implementation, transportation, and operation for industrial clients,” said Manufacturing Outlook Magazine. Four-time University of Illinois alumnus Brian Jurczyk is the co-founder and CEO/President of Starfire Industries. Under his leadership, the company has grown from EnterpriseWorks startup (graduating in 2009) to have 14,000 sq. ft. of offices and production space in the University of Illinois Research Park. It now employs about 35 individuals. “As portable products can be easily transported between locations, the clients can easily leverage them for their inspection and testing needs at their desired locations, whether it is for product testing, elemental analysis, cargo inspection, radiography, downhole well inspection, and much more; the possibilities are endless,” Jurczyk said to Manufacturing Outlook Magazine.

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