News

Brunswick Corporation announced  April 7, 2021 a major expansion of its i-Jet Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois Research Park to support an acceleration of the Company’s ACES (Autonomy, Connectivity and Electrification) strategy and vision to use technology and design to enhance the recreational boating experience.   The new space will triple the square footage of the current location, allowing for more than double the number of students currently at the site and provide a home for some of the rapidly expanding team of full-time electrification and autonomy specialists being hired as part of Brunswick’s Enterprise Technology Team. Opened in 2018, the i-Jet lab was created to provide an opportunity for engineering, design and business students at the University of Illinois to work closely with leaders at Brunswick to help shape the boating experience by leveraging the latest advancements in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced electrical systems and UX/UI, including virtual/augmented reality. The i-Jet students engage with Brunswick’s corporate and divisional resources to generate creative solutions for Brunswick’s award-winning brands through multi-disciplinary collaboration and the exploration and implementation of these new and emerging technologies. “Over the past year, we’ve made significant investments in building our electrification and autonomy solutions, more than doubling our enterprise technology team,” said John Reid, Brunswick Corporation vice president of enterprise technologies. “The expansion of our i-Jet lab is a critical component in our ability to improve our pipeline for talent.  We look forward to fostering the next generation of leaders by creating an environment that is conducive to innovation and collaboration as we define the future of the marine industry and deliver innovation and inspiration on the water.” “We see technology and innovation as enablers to a frictionless boating experience and, importantly, we believe in the power of constant collaboration and exploration.,” said Trevor George, i-Jet Site Director.  “These strengths, along with the collaboration with other companies within the Research Park gives us an opportunity that most companies don’t have, allowing us to define the future of boating by continuously investing in state-of-the-art technology, and industry-leading processes and methods.” Recently, Brunswick announced additional senior technical positions and new leaders to spearhead its autonomy and electrification programs, including John Oenick, Director of Enterprise Electrification and Jason Arbuckle, Autonomy Technical Lead. The official grand opening of the expanded i-Jet lab is scheduled for July 1, 2021. To learn more, visit https://ijetlab.com. About Brunswick Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Mastervolt, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Heyday, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club and BoatClass.  For more information, visit brunswick.com. View the original press release from Brunswick here.

Historic legislation signed by Governor Pritzker on Tuesday included creation of a new funding program that will advance Illinois startups who secure federal small business innovation grants. The equity-centric legislative package, which focuses on expanding economic access and opportunity across the state, adds a new Illinois Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching Funds Program. This program provides a cash match for federal funds that help finance early-stage technology companies.  The Illinois SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program will provide a state match of 50 percent, up to $50,000, for qualifying Illinois companies who receive a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant award. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will administer the Illinois SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program. No details regarding eligibility or application processes have been released.  Illinois startups seeking SBIR/STTR grant funding can access assistance from the FAST Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which provides the resources, support, and expertise necessary to submit a highly competitive proposal. The FAST Center offers free technical assistance, mentoring, and training to technology entrepreneurs across the State of Illinois. Illinois previously had a SBIR/STTR matching program during the Blagojevich administration, but that funding expired more than a dozen years ago. Momentum to restore the funding reignited in 2019, when Senator Elgie Sims (D-17th) worked with iBIO and DCEO to introduce SB1608, legislation to reestablish a SBIR matching program in Illinois.  The Champaign-Urbana Tech CEO Roundtable — a coalition of tech CEOs located in the greater Champaign-Urbana area — wrote a letter in support of the legislation at that time. “The state currently pulls below its weight in SBIR funding received, ranking 13th nationally. Increasing the incentive to pursue SBIR funding will help growing companies bring innovative technologies to market in Illinois,” Ryan Shelton, CEO of PhotoniCare and chair of the CEO Roundtable, wrote in the 2019 letter. “State matching programs further encourage small businesses operating within their borders to apply for these types of awards.” Illinois is now the 23rd state (as of 2020) to establish a federal funds matching program, including neighbors Wisconsin and Iowa.