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    University of Illinois Research Park Releases Request for Proposal

    Updated: 3/11 The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a preeminent land-grant research university, with more than 50,000 students. Located on its main campus, the University of Illinois Research Park is a 200-acre development with leading corporate innovation centers, startup companies, and lifestyle amenities. Research Park released a request for proposal to accelerate development in accordance with the Master Plan as adopted by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The University is strongly committed to the growth of the Research Park. The State of Illinois Public Higher Education Bulletin has published a Request for Proposal: Research Park Developer Selection Zone 1 & 2.  The University of Illinois Research Park hosted a one-hour Pre-Proposal Conference and Information Session on Thursday, March 11, 2021, which provided background information on the development area, reviewed the RFP process, and allowed participant questions. Access the event recording here. RFP responses will be accepted until Friday, April 23, 2021. Interested parties should respond in the manner outlined within the State of Illinois Public Higher Education Bulletin. Purpose of Request for Proposal: The UIRP LLC seeks a Developer or development team for specific land development projects or specific building proposals within two (2) areas (zones) within the Research Park Boundaries using a Developer Equity Model. A concession ground lease pursuant 30 ILCS 500/53-25 be used to transact these arrangements. These zones are further defined herein and are designated for the following uses: Graduate student and/or professional market rate private housing projects. Projects shall not include undergraduate housing, and will not be a part of the University housing system Mixed-use development including residential, office or retail uses Commercial office development (developer-owned) Office/research development of owner-occupied buildings Research facilities Medical-related facilities and associated uses Other uses which are consistent with the Research Park mission as may be determined by UIRP LLC and University The timeline for the Request for Proposal (RFP) is as follows: Publication of Request for Proposals: February 19, 2021 Pre-proposal conference and information session: March 11, 2021 Deadline for questions by email: April 14, 2021 Deadline for submissions: April 23, 2021 Award anticipated by Fall 2021 For additional information, contact by email only. No phone inquiries will be answered. Answers to questions will be formulated by the Research Park RFP Committee and posted on the Illinois Public Higher Education Bulletin. Bruce Walden, Bwalden@uillinois.edu University of IllinoisOffice of Capital Programs and Real Estate Services506 S. Wright Street, Suite 208Urbana, Illinois 61801 Thank you for your interest.

    University of Illinois Research Park Releases Request for Proposal Read Post »

    News Research Park

    TEKMILL Robot Powers University’s COVID-19 Test Processing

    TEKMILL, a company headquartered in Research Park, has partnered with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to automate and accelerate the processing of the SHIELD COVID-19 saliva tests, the Daily Illini reported.  The University has acquired two rapid and compact test tube processing machines built and fabricated by Champaign-based TEKMILL. “Two decapping robots invented by TEKMILL, a contract design and fabrication business located in the University of Illinois at Research Park, and two liquid handling robots purchased separately, have been extremely successful in “increasing the fluidity of tests” and also heavily increased the automation of the processing samples,” wrote reporter Mona Alrazzaq. For more information about the tube-capping machine and TEKMILL, visit its website.

    TEKMILL Robot Powers University’s COVID-19 Test Processing Read Post »

    Community Investments News Research Park

    Study Says Champaign-Urbana Economic Development Efforts Should Target Three Clusters – AgTech, MedTech and Manufacturing

    Report Provides Suggestions for Next Steps to Maximize Impact of Future Investment & Community Collaboration CHAMPAIGN, IL, February 10, 2021 – A recent study commissioned by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office of Corporate Relations has identified three strong business clusters that provide a framework for where to focus the area’s economic development efforts. Business Cluster Development, led by principal Carol Lauffer, completed more than 80 interviews with community, University, and business leaders in Champaign County to review the potential for growth and development of six industry clusters. Following interviews and extensive research, Lauffer then identified three strong clusters deserving of further investment: AgTech, MedTech, and Manufacturing. “Those of us who call Champaign-Urbana home know what a vibrant community we live in,” said Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “As we deliberately plan for economic recovery and a post-pandemic future, this visionary report reflects a strong collaboration between the University and the broader community. Identifying AgTech, MedTech, and Manufacturing clusters brings together our respective strengths in innovation and positions us for exciting new opportunities.” Underlying all of the sectors, Lauffer wrote, is the community’s strength in data science. The report affirms the three specific industry clusters in the region and provides an understanding of how those clusters may be leveraged as regional strengths. The 2021 report, including an executive summary, can be found online here and is available for public download. AGTECH: AgTech combines UIUC’s technical expertise and talent in agriculture, engineering and data analytics with Champaign County as a prime growing region for corn and soybeans. Access to farmers as customers and farms as testbeds are important advantages for early-stage companies and the cluster. MEDTECH: The emerging MedTech cluster in Champaign-Urbana capitalizes upon a relatively new and significant innovation asset, Carle Illinois College of Medicine; combined with UIUC engineering and bioscience expertise and research; and other healthcare innovation assets across the community, including the local hospitals and COVID-19 efforts. MANUFACTURING: Manufacturing continues to be an important industry for Champaign- Urbana and an economic development priority. Generally, manufacturers in Champaign-Urbana make products that are non-standardized, have a more limited market size, or require customization. A number develop prototypes for entrepreneurs and businesses, including assistance with refining their product designs before scale-up. Lauffer noted in the report that targeting and growing industry clusters is an economic development strategy designed to leverage the strengths present in a community in order to support new business formation, business retention and attraction, and grow the local economy. “Research shows that when businesses from related industries locate in close proximity to one another they can increase their productivity and drive innovation,” said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. “This report not only identifies clusters, but provides strategies to help advance them. We are fortunate to be in a community that values collaboration. Together, we will continue to build our workforce and attract more capital into these clusters.” This is the second time BCD has studied Champaign-Urbana. In 2014, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign commissioned Lauffer to assess and identify clusters that would capitalize upon its research strengths and expertise, and strengthen the local economy. That study contributed to the business case for the formation of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. About Business Cluster Development (BCD): BCD, based in Palo Alto, CA, is a consulting firm focused on industry clusters or verticals. BCD provides guidance to operating incubators and accelerators and develops strategies that catalyze emerging innovation clusters. BCD evaluates entrepreneurial ecosystems and recommends paths to making them vibrant. BCD has consulted with clients for nearly 25 years and assisted with more than 80 programs across the U.S. and overseas. BCD’s clients are diverse, including cities, states, economic development organizations, universities, community colleges, research institutes, industry associations, non-profit organizations, real estate developers, and corporations. Learn more at http://clusterdevelopment.com/.

    Study Says Champaign-Urbana Economic Development Efforts Should Target Three Clusters – AgTech, MedTech and Manufacturing Read Post »

    Community News Research Park

    Illinois Conference Center at Research Park Serves as Community Vaccine Clinic

    The Illinois Conference Center at Research Park has played a central role in getting the COVID-19 vaccine into Champaign County arms. The newly expanded conference center has been one of the primary locations for distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to Champaign County residents, primarily those 65 and up. Julie Pryde, executive director of the Champaign Urbana Public Health District, says the conference center is home to the “nation’s fanciest vaccine clinic.” Currently, vaccines are available by appointment only. Information about vaccines, and how to access them, is available on the CUPHD website.  The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD)  hosts community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics in partnership with Carle Health, OSF HealthCare, Christie Clinic, Promise Healthcare, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Updated vaccine information for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty, staff, and students can be found at the University’s COVID-19 website.

    Illinois Conference Center at Research Park Serves as Community Vaccine Clinic Read Post »

    Events News Research Park

    Illinois Agtech Accelerator Announces Spring 2021 Companies

    CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – Illinois AgTech Accelerator, a gener8tor program based at the University of Illinois Research Park, has announced the participants in its gBETA AgTech Spring 2021 cohort — including EnterpriseWorks-based TellTail.  The five participating startups range from food ingredients to livestock management.  gBETA AgTech is a free, seven-week accelerator for early stage companies from around the country. Each of five participating startups receive a $25,000 investment via uncapped convertible note or on their existing financing terms. Each gBETA program is capped at five companies to ensure meaningful engagement with sponsors and other resources. Participants receive intensive and individualized coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors. The program is designed to help startups gain early customer traction on their product or idea, and establish metrics that can make them competitive applicants for full-time, equity-based accelerators or seed investment. “This cohort was selected from among a highly competitive pool of applicants and we are excited to see the breadth of innovation this group of companies will bring to the ag and food industries.” said Jack Marck, Managing Director of Illinois AgTech Accelerator. The program kicks off on Wednesday, January 20 with five startups who will be working over the next seven weeks with the gBETA team to meet mentors, gain customer traction and pitch to investors. gBETA AgTech is held once a year with five companies accepted per cohort to ensure a high level of individualized attention. Startups interested in applying should contact Illinois AgTech Accelerator Managing Director Jack Marck (jack@gener8tor.com). For more information, visit gbetaagtech.com. gBETA AgTech Spring 2021 Cohort  Otrafy applies key disruptive technologies like Natural Language Processing and OCR to food safety processes and information to help quality assurance professionals manage the collection, storage, reviewing and renewal of supplier quality data. Nhat Nguyen: Co-Founder & CEO AgVoice, a mobile voice-to-data system, allows agri-food workers to capture and analyze field-level data more efficiently and accurately, hands-free. Bruce Rasa: Founder & CEO ClearLeaf designs and commercializes innovative pre- and post-harvest fungicides and bactericides to create sustainable crop protection strategies mitigating the negative impacts of harmful pests while maintaining balance on the farm, protecting farmers and consumers. Néstor Zúñiga: Founder & CEO TellTail, Inc develops digital tools to improve the management of pig production systems by bringing together people, pigs and facilities under a single platform. Based at EnterpriseWorks and founded at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Angela Green-Miller: Co-founder & CEO Spira uses CRISPR-edited carbon-negative algae to create replacements for artificial colors and animal proteins in the supply chain for food, cosmetic and textile companies. Elliot Roth: Founder & CEO About gener8tor gener8tor’s turnkey platform for the creative economy connects startup founders, musicians, artists, investors, universities, and corporations. The gener8tor platform includes pre-accelerators, accelerators, corporate programming, conferences and fellowships. About gBETAgBETA is a program of nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor. gBETA is a free accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity. For more gBETA statistics, visit www.gbetastartups.com/statistics.

    Illinois Agtech Accelerator Announces Spring 2021 Companies Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks Features Graduates News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Aptimmune Featured in APLU’s University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase

    EnterpriseWorks graduate Aptimmune Biologics was featured as a successful university-related startup at The Association of American Universities and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase in December. Aptimmune specializes in developing autogenous mucosal vaccines for viral diseases that are costly to the swine industry. Founded by Dr. Federico Zuckermann, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign veterinary medicine faculty member, the company graduated from EnterpriseWorks in 2018 and is now based in St. Louis. A video about Aptimmune’s technology and impact that was created and shown at the APLU event can be viewed here.  The third annual University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase was held virtually on Dec. 7-11. The showcase spotlighted 22 startup companies from across the nation that have created products and services using federally funded, university-based research.

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Aptimmune Featured in APLU’s University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase Read Post »

    Events News Research Park

    FAST Center at Illinois Announces SBIR/STTR Sprint for AFWERX (Air Force) and SOFWERX (Special Operations Command)

    The FAST Center at Illinois, in collaboration with AFWERX (Air Force) and SOFWERX (Special Operations Command), is running a SBIR/STTR sprint in order to enhance the number, quality, and diversity of applicants throughout the state of Illinois.  Through this four-week SBIR/STTR sprint, entrepreneurs/inventors/companies will learn what makes the AFWERX/SOFWERX process different as well as how to build a competitive proposal package. Teams will watch half hour lectures, work in collaborative workshops, and submit materials each week for review. The Department of Defense seeks small high technology firms with the R&D capabilities, internal and external, to deliver a technologically advanced solution for its expressed need. It is vitally important to understand this landscape before investing time and money to seek funding.  AFWERX (Air Force) and SOFWERX (Special Operations Command) have revolutionized the way the DoD does business with startups and small business entities. Find the topics here. The workshops will be facilitated by Alex Gorsuch, who leads the FAST Center at Illinois. Teams with be contacted by Alex before the event to ensure it’s the right fit. Register for the workshops here: https://illinois.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsfuyvqzkvHdYElKF-uKu2rGJAUOPMhmms Workshop Dates (all are at 1:00pm Central):  Wednesday, 01/13: AFWERX/SOFWERX SBIR Overview and Checklist, Topic Selection Wednesday, 01/20: Customer Discovery Plan, Key Personnel, Principal Investigator Selection, Technical Objectives and Tasks Wednesday, 01/27: Budgeting, Letters of Support, Timeline and Deliverables Wednesday, 02/03: Commercialization Plan, Dual Use, Phase 2, Phase 3, Slide Deck Other Important Dates:  01/21: SBIR DoD 21.1 Applications Open 02/18: SBIR DoD 21.1 Applications Close For more information or questions, please contact Alex Gorsuch, Visiting Associate Director of Entrepreneurship, at Gorsuch4@Illinois.edu

    FAST Center at Illinois Announces SBIR/STTR Sprint for AFWERX (Air Force) and SOFWERX (Special Operations Command) Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks Graduates Investments News Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Network Perception Raises $2.7 Million Seed Round

    EnterpriseWorks graduate Network Perception, a Chicago-based provider of a software solution for cyber- compliance and network security in the electrical utility industry, announced this week it has raised $2.73 million in seed funding. The round was led by Champaign-based Serra Ventures, Okapi Ventures, and Energy Foundry, with participation from Early Light Ventures, SaaS Ventures, Illinois Ventures (the venture capital arm of the University of Illinois), and Service Provider Capital. Jeff Bocan from Okapi Venture and Rob Schultz from Serra Ventures joined the NP Board of Directors. “We are very excited to welcome Okapi as new investors. Having their financial and strategic support both validates the market opportunity for our business and fuels our momentum to grow as a company,” said Robin Berthier, CEO and co-founder of Network Perception. The company intends to use the funds to scale its activity in the electric utility sector and beyond. Founded in 2014, Network Perception supplies critical infrastructure industries with a pioneering risk visualization technology empowering their cybersecurity and compliance teams. Network Perception was based at EnterpriseWorks in the University of Illinois Research Park from its founding until it moved its headquarters to Chicago. The company’s technology is based on research originally developed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Hear about the history and future of Network Perception in this Startup Cafe presentation by CEO and co-founder Robin Berthier from Oct. 29, 2020.

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Network Perception Raises $2.7 Million Seed Round Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks Graduates News Research Park

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Serionix creates performance face mask

    Serionix, an EnterpriseWorks graduate, created an athletic performance face mask with MERV-13 equivalent nanofiber inserts. These inserts are able to trap small particles, including viruses.  The masks are not only effective, but they’re specifically built for performance athletic use. The masks are comfortable, breathable, and it’s easier to project your voice compared to other masks. Seronix says they’ve received great feedback from multiple athletes ranging from skiers, sprinters, and strongman competitors. Serionix plans to integrate their Colorfil technology with their facemasks in the future. The Colorfil technology can quickly soak up toxic chemicals and filters odors. The masks also change color from vibrant pink to dull yellow to show when the filter expires. The Serionix team is also working with NASA to use its lightweight Colorfil technology on NASA’s spaceships and spacesuits. Serionix is now seeking city approval for a significant expansion in downtown Urbana in order to grow its engineering, assembly, and warehouse operations. Serionix has partnered with Body n’ Sole and Champaign Outdoors, so you can purchase a mask in store or online by visiting their website. Read the full article by WCIA here.

    EnterpriseWorks Graduate Serionix creates performance face mask Read Post »

    EnterpriseWorks News Research Park

    New oversight for FAST Partnership Program

    Alex Gorsuch has joined the EnterpriseWorks staff as a Visiting Associate Director for Entrepreneurship. In this position, he manages the US Small Business Administration Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program in Illinois. The FAST program funds training programs and workshops, individual mentoring, grant preparation assistance, and technical assistance to technology startups locally and across the state with the support of SBIR/STTR federal award programs. Since its founding in 2003, EnterpriseWorks has helped R&D focused startups and small businesses to receive 471 SBIR/STTR awards totaling over $154 million. The University of Illinois Research Park is one of the 24 recipients nationwide for the SBA FAST Grant. Learn more about the FAST Partnership program here. Gorsuch is no stranger to EnterpriseWorks, having served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and a part of the iCorps teaching team. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Gorsuch is a multidisciplinary engineer, serial entrepreneur, startup mentor. Currently, Alex is the VP of electrical and systems engineering at Pivotal Biotech, Chief Technology Officer at Ascent Integrated Tech and H-Trap One, Chief Executive Officer of MagPi Innovations, and mentor to numerous startups.

    New oversight for FAST Partnership Program Read Post »

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