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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Research Park

    News

    News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    Hailong Ning of Xerion Advanced Battery Corp. Talks New Location and Research Park

    Hailong Ning, Director of Research and Development at Xerion Advanced Battery Corp., was featured on the Wired In column of The News-Gazette. The startup recently graduated in 2017 and has just finished building its second location in Dayton, Ohio. Xerion Advanced Battery Corp. (XABC) develops advanced batteries through a nanostructured electrode architecture, called StructurePoreTM. Hailong explains that “the technology we are working on is top-notch. We work at a much faster pace than big companies and university labs.” Apart from their pilot plant location in Ohio, Hailong states that the company still has a division at Research Park, with the goal to continue close work with the University of Illinois. They will use their space at Research Park to work on new battery designs. Read the full story on The News-Gazette.

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    EnterpriseWorks News

    Serionix Expands Commerical Use for Colorfil Air Filters

    EnterpriseWorks tenant Serionix shared their story with Crain’s Chicago Business this week. Serionix was formed by material sciences trio James Langer, Weihua Zheng, and James Economy. Beginning with creating filters for Samsung and Intel, the startup has now expanded their technology’s audience to astronauts and the typical cat owner. The article acknowledges that Serionix has received a $750,000 contract from NASA, $500,00 from Champaign venture-capital firm Serra Ventures, and a total of $3,000,000 in grants.

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    News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    Aptimmune Biologics of Research Park launches PRRSV vaccine

    Aptimmune Biologics Inc. recently launched the worlds first commercially available mucosal autogenous PRRSV vaccine for swine, administered via nasal spray. The vaccine was made with BARRICADE formulation technology, which offers a revolutionary approach to PRRSV management. Dr. Bob Nordgen, Aptimmune Biologic Consulting Immunologist says, “The intent is to create immunity at the respiratory surface, where the pig is naturally challenged. This vaccine offers a real opportunity to address a significant gap in disease control that still exists years after PRRSV was first identified.”

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    News Research Park

    UIRP Hosts AURP’s Introduction to Research Parks Program

    The University of Illinois Research Park will be the first stop of the Introduction to Research Parks program put on by The Association of University Research Parks. Attendees will attend various sessions and courses throughout the two-day event, as well as tour The Research Park and EnterpriseWorks technology incubator. With 100+ companies on campus, including both corporate research and tech operations and startups alike, those who attend the Introduction to Research Parks at The University of Illinois Research Park will learn the how’s and why’s that led to the park’s successful and growing public-private partnership. Established in 1986, The Association of University Research Parks serves more than 700 research parks across the world in order to foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth in a global economy through university, industry and government partnerships.

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    News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    Graybar Opens Innovation Lab at Research Park

    Graybar and University of Illinois Announce the Opening of the Graybar Innovation Lab at Research Park CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (May 1, 2017) – Graybar and the University of Illinois today announced the grand opening of the Graybar Innovation Lab at Research Park. At this facility, Graybar will collaborate with University of Illinois students and faculty to develop industry-leading digital capabilities that strengthen its position in the supply chain. “Graybar has a long history of innovation, dating back to the original founding of our company,” said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, Graybar Chairman, President and CEO. “We’re proud to continue that tradition here at Research Park. The Graybar Innovation Lab will accelerate our digital transformation by combining leading-edge technology with fresh ideas from the University of Illinois’ students and faculty. I’m excited to see how this collaboration will drive supply chain innovation and raise the bar for our entire industry.” The Graybar Innovation Lab at Research Park also provides a unique opportunity for students to become familiar with Graybar and the wholesale distribution industry, as the innovation lab will provide full- and part-time positions for undergraduate and graduate students. “We’re always looking for bright, energetic individuals to join our company,” said Mazzarella. “This will give students a way to explore potential career paths within wholesale distribution.” “We’re excited to welcome Graybar and its new Innovation Lab. This is a great first step in our relationship with Graybar but also clearly reinforces our commitment to working with industry partners,” said Chancellor Robert J. Jones. “By tapping into the broad diversity of talent here, Graybar will offer University of Illinois students new opportunities that will expand their skills and education in ways that go far beyond the classroom.” The University of Illinois Research Park is home to innovation centers for multinational corporations and publically traded firms including Abbott, ADM, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Caterpillar, Capital One, CME Group, John Deere, State Farm, and Yahoo. About Graybar Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 290 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Read more coverage from The Daily Illini, Smile Politely, and The News-Gazette. View photos from the event here.

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    News Partnerships & Acquisitions Research Park

    New TDFC IV Building Opened at Research Park

    CHAMPAIGN– The new TDFC IV building is now open in the Research Park, and Mixed Use building will open later this year. The Mayor of Champaign, Deb Frank Feinen, had some positive comments about the approval of the new buildings.  She says, “I think the Research Park has been a tremendous economic engine for both the City of Champaign and the community. Continuing to support the Research Park is in everyone’s best interest.” The TDFC IV building will be primarily used for research for power optimization for mobile electronics. The Brunswick Innovation Laboratory is the first new tenant that will be opened in the mixed-used building. Learn more about how Brunswick will engage students and provide opportunities to collaborate with University of Illinois researchers, through this link.  Read more about the expansion and approval on The News Gazette and WILL’s websites.   

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    Investments News Research Park

    Brunswick Innovation Laboratory to Open in New Mixed Use Building

    Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) today announced it will soon open the Brunswick Innovation Laboratory in the Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Innovation Lab will augment the considerable research and development activity the Company currently conducts across all of its primary lines of business, including marine engine, pleasure boats and fitness equipment.  Brunswick spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year on research and development in a continuous effort to drive innovation into its new products, to enhance existing products and to improve its manufacturing processes.  These efforts have been solidly productive as the Company continues to outpace its competition in the introduction of new products to market as well as securing patents on its technologies and features.  In 2016, Brunswick ranked among the top 25 Illinois-based companies in securing patents. This newly established research arm for Brunswick will be under the direction of Troy Kollmann, who was formerly manager, innovation processes and emerging technologies, at Brunswick’s Mercury Marine division. “The Research Park’s intimate connection with the University of Illinois, with its resources and talented students and faculty, is particularly enticing for Brunswick as well as other firms seeking to expand their understanding and deployment of technologies to advance their products and open new avenues to grow their businesses,” explained David Foulkes, Brunswick’s vice president and chief technology officer.  “The technical resources at the University of Illinois are among the most highly regarded in the nation, as are its engineering programs.  These strengths, along with other companies within the park, offer an atmosphere conducive to collaboration and learning,” Foulkes concluded. More than 100 companies, including industry leaders such as Abbott, John Deere and Yahoo, have facilities within the 200-acre research park, which is adjacent to the university’s campus. Research Park Director, Laura Frerichs, expressed the University of Illinois’ support for welcoming Brunswick: “We are pleased to begin this partnership in innovation with Brunswick, which will both engage students in building new technology as well as provide opportunities to collaborate with University of Illinois researchers.” The Brunswick Innovation Lab will work closely with Brunswick corporate and divisional resources to further accelerate Brunswick’s progress in its areas of high interest, including the Internet of Things, advanced analytics, and a range of human-machine interaction and enhanced user-experience technologies. The Innovation Lab will initially occupy a temporary location beginning in April before moving into its permanent location in what will be the Research Park’s newest building, currently under construction and expected to be completed and ready for occupancy at the end of 2017. About BrunswickHeadquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s  leading consumer brands include Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N’ Sea, Kellogg Marine, Payne’s Marine and BLA parts and accessories distributors; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Brunswick Commercial and Government Products, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Meridian, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group  and SCIFIT fitness equipment; InMovement products and services for productive well-being; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories and game room furniture. For more information, visit http://www.brunswick.com. Read more on Brunswick’s website, The Daily Illini, and GlobeNewsWire.

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    News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Research Park Affiliates and Companies Honored at 2017 Innovation Celebration

    The 2017 Innovation Celebration awards were announced on Friday, March 3. Of the ten awards given, five were in relation to the Research Park.  The Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup Award was awarded to Cast21, an EnterpriseWorks tenant. Cast21 is introducing a medical cast for treating broken bones to increase patient comfort and decrease medical complications. The Entrepreneurial Excellence: Paul Magelli Advocacy Award was given to Jed Taylor, and Entrepreneur in Resident at Research Park. Jed also provides consulting through JLT Tech Services and manages the Technology Entrepreneur Center. Research Park’s Associate Director Laura Bleill received the Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award for her position at UIRP and her independent media source, chambanamoms.com.  The Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award was awarded to PhotoniCare, Inc., another EnterpriseWorks startup. This is a medical device company fundamentally changing the way physicians manage middle ear infections.  II-VI EpiWorks, a company that began in Research Park and has since quadrupled in size, won the Innovation: Economic Development Impact Award. Epiworks is a major manufacturer of compound semiconductor wafer.  In addition, we want to recognize Research Park affilitiates and companies that were finalists for the 2017 awards, including: Therapalz Amber Agriculture Reconstruct Inc.Petronics (Sprite Robotics)Sanjay Patel – PersonifyBeth Ladd – Caterpillar Data Innovation Lab Congratulations to all award finalists and winners. For the full list of awards and their descriptions, visit Innovation Celebration’s website.

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    EnterpriseWorks Events News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize Established

    Champaign, IL (February 23, 2017) — The first annual Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize will be presented at today’s Agriculture Technology Innovation Summit. The award, generously funded by University of Illinois alumni and their families, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations. The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s technology incubator. Its goal is to encourage startup companies engaged in 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. “The Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize informs us that the science of farming, while one of the oldest in the world, continues to provide new opportunities and challenges in our society,” said Laura Frerichs, director of the University of Illinois Research Park and EnterpriseWorks. “We are grateful to the Moore Family for its support of the University of Illinois entrepreneurial ecosystem, and look forward to seeing how this resource will inspire future innovators and innovations.” The first of two $5,000 prizes to be awarded annually will be presented at today’s Agriculture Technology Innovation Summit to Soil Diagnostics. The second prize is at stake as part of the Cozad New Venture Competition, the university’s signature competition for student startups, and will be awarded in April. 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 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.

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards

    EnterpriseWorks Receives EDA Grant To Further Entrepreneurship at Illinois Universities

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Bleill, (217) 244-7744, lwbleill@illinois.edu EnterpriseWorks Receives EDA Grant To Further Entrepreneurship at Illinois Universities Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant will support development of higher education entrepreneurial ecosystems across Illinois CHAMPAIGN, IL, February, 1, 2017–The EnterpriseWorks incubator at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, has been awarded an Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant for $549,620 as a five year grant from the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) to advance incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems associated with higher education across Illinois. EnterpriseWorks will provide assistance to other higher education incubators and entrepreneurial spaces located across Illinois, including many in economically distressed counties. The grant will support the creation of the Illinois University Incubator Network (IUIN) to link such incubators and facilitate best practice and resource sharing, opportunities for workshops, as well as direct assistance to entrepreneurs.  Along with incubator assistance, the program will support an annual Illinois University Incubator Network conference to bring together industry thought leaders, entrepreneurs, faculty, investors, mentors, policymakers, and academic professionals to discuss the advantages and challenges faced across Illinois. IUIN also will build a mentor network for university incubator companies to capture the depth of knowledge that exists across the state. “To harness and leverage the talent that exists in our entrepreneurial landscape, especially within University environments, will build the state’s economy and opportunities for future economic success,” said Laura Frerichs, director of the University of Illinois Research Park and director of economic development at the University of Illinois. “EnterpriseWorks is looking forward to working with supporting and advancing entrepreneurship across the state of Illinois.” Supporting partners for the IUIN include Bradley University, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Millikin University, Northern Illinois University, Olivet Nazarene University, Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Innovate Springfield. Preliminary work has begun on the project with efforts ramping up over the next several months. The University of Illinois has hired an experienced entrepreneur to lead the center along with the EnterpriseWorks team. Interested participants in the program may contact Marissa Siero at siebel2@illinois.edu. A web portal for the activities of the incubator network will be completed in 2017. In addition to the EAA Grant, EnterpriseWorks has also been awarded an EDA University Center grant to help downstate Illinois entrepreneurs. Read the News-Gazette’s coverage here.

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