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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

Research Park

    Recognition & Awards

    EnterpriseWorks Events News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    EarthSense Receives 2018 Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize

    Champaign, IL — EarthSense, a company that develops ultracompact autonomous robots for crop breeders, agronomists, and growers, is the recipient of the second Edwin Moore Family Agriculture Innovation Prize. The award, generously funded by University of Illinois alumni and their families, rewards University of Illinois entrepreneurs focusing on agricultural innovations. Family members Penny DeYoung and Ed Moore presented the award to EarthSense during the Agriculture Technology Innovation Summit on Feb. 28 in Champaign. EarthSense provides herbicide-free superweed eradication using TerraSentia, an ultracompact autonomous robot. TerraSentia also delivers under-canopy plant health and trait information. In 2018, more than 25 TerraSentia robots are in paid trials. The team who developed the TerraSentia’s robotics and machine-vision technology includes CEO Chinmay Soman and CTO Girish Chowdhary, an assistant professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The company occupies a lab at EnterpriseWorks, the technology incubator in the Research Park. The Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund was established in 2016 with a generous gift to EnterpriseWorks. 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. In addition to the prize given at the AgTech Innovation Summit, a second Edwin Moore Agriculture Innovation Fund award is at stake as part of the Cozad New Venture Competition, the university’s signature competition for student startups. It 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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    News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Oath (Yahoo) at the Research Park Leads $1 Million Donation to Local Champaign-Urbana Charities

    The Yahoo Employee Foundation (YEF) will award nearly a million dollars in grant money to three local not-for profits at a brief ceremony this Wednesday July 12 beginning at 12:30pm on the Oath (Yahoo) campus 1908 S. First Street in Champaign. Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, and the Eastern Illinois Foodbank will each receive checks for $320,000 from YEF based on the strong partnerships and high program impact from previous YEF funding. Champaign, IL  The Yahoo Employee Foundation (YEF) will award nearly a million dollars in grant money to three local not-for profits at a brief ceremony this Wednesday July 12 beginning at 12:30pm on the Yahoo campus 1908 S. First Street in Champaign. Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, and the Eastern Illinois Foodbank will each receive checks for $320,000 from YEF based on the strong partnerships and high program impact from previous YEF funding. Through YEF, Yahoo employees have been able to champion important causes and impact organizations around the world. Since 2000, YEF awarded over $35 million through more than 1,200 grants to organizations chosen by Yahoo employees. With the acquisition of Yahoo by Verizon, YEF will be distributing the balance of remaining funds, including the three local organizations selected by their effective use of YEF funding in previous funding cycles. Sheila Dodd, of Habitat for Humanity, Sam Banks, of Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, and Jim Hires, President and CEO of the Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be on hand Wednesday to receive the funds and provide acknowledgements for these generous donations.

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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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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards

    EnterpriseWorks Awarded University Center Grant For Downstate Illinois Entrepreneurial Development

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 1, 2017Contact:Laura Weisskopf Bleill, lwbleill@illinois.edu; 217-244-7744 EnterpriseWorks Awarded University Center Grant For Downstate Illinois Entrepreneurial Development Will Provide Direct Technical and Business Assistance For Entrepreneurs South of I-80 CHAMPAIGN,  Ill., February 1, 2017 – The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s EnterpriseWorks incubator has been awarded a University Center Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) to provide direct assistance to downstate Illinois entrepreneurs. The EDA University Center Grant awards EnterpriseWorks $54,000 annually over five years for a total of $270,000. This is the second five-year University Center Grant EnterpriseWorks has been awarded by the EDA. EnterpriseWorks and the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign are a part of a peer network of centers across the United States focused on utilizing the skills and talents from universities to provide business assistance to further grow the economy. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was one of 24 colleges and universities recently awarded funding from the EDA University Center program, which also includes the University of Illinois at Chicago. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will utilize the grant funding to provide direct technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses referred by partnering incubators, SBDC programs, PTAC offices, ITCs, University of Illinois Extension offices, or higher education entrepreneurial programs.  Eligible participants will be located in Illinois communities south of Interstate 80. As part of the University Center program, technical and business assistance will be provided by teams of University of Illinois students who will engage in market research, competitive assessment, design, and technical consultation, among other activities.  This provides University of Illinois students with experiential learning opportunities to apply knowledge they have acquired in the classroom. 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. In addition to the EDA University Center Grant, EnterpriseWorks has also been awarded an EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance grant to help university-based incubators and enterpreneurship in 10 Illinois counties. Read the News-Gazette’s coverage here.

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards

    Veriflow Wins Open Innovation Challenge Award

    CHAMPAIGN — Veriflow Systems was selected as the Barclays “Innovation Challenge Winner,” beating out over 100 competing companies. This event is held to assess the latest technologies that are likely to drastically impact the banking scene in the future. Veriflow, a Research Park startup planted in EnterpriseWorks, is the first networking company to use continuous network verification to eliminate network outages and vulnerabilities. Read more about the challenge and Veriflow Systems here.

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    News Recognition & Awards

    2016 Innovation Celebration Winners Announced

    CHAMPAIGN, IL, January 25, 2016 – Over 400 people gathered at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts for the 11th Annual Innovation Celebration on the evening on January 22nd to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions, taken risks, and provided leadership to ensure the continuing economic success of Champaign County, the ongoing success of the University’s economic development mission, and the growth of entrepreneurial talent and energy in the community. Innovation Celebration is not merely an award for accomplishment, but a benchmark of success for those outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations who are nominated and selected to receive this prestigious award. Innovation Celebration is hosted by the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the University of Illinois, Parkland College, and community sponsors. For more information, visit www.innovationcelebration.com. Award Winners (Research Park/EnterpriseWorks tenants in orange) Entrepreneurial Excellence: Social Venture Award Pens to Lens Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup Award BioAnalytics Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award Inprentus Entrepreneurial Excellence: Advocacy Award Paul Magelli Innovation: Economic Development Impact Award Carle Illinois College of Medicine Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award Mike Folk Innovation: Longevity Award Wolfram Innovation Transfer Award – University of Illinois Dr. Paul Hergenrother Alexis Wernsing Innovation Award – University of Illinois The Wernsing Family Innovation in Engagement Award – Parkland College Dean Marietta Turner The EDC is pleased to work with the following sponsors of Innovation Celebration 2016: the University of Illinois’ Technology Entrepreneur Center, Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, and Office of Technology Management, along with Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Parkland College, Singleton Law Firm, Serra Ventures, Pavlov Media, BRG Sports, City of Champaign, Village of Rantoul, Martin Hood Friese & Associates, EpiWorks, Illinois Applied Research Institute, Fox Development Corporation, Ramshaw Real Estate, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, U of I Employees Credit Union, Surface 51, M2 on Neil, and McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff. A special thanks to 40 North for producing the videos. See the videos here. Read Smile Politely’s coverage here. Read the News-Gazette’s coverage here.

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    EnterpriseWorks News Recognition & Awards

    Quicket Solutions Named Winner In Amazon Web Services City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge

    New York City, NY, 11-10-2015– Quicket Solutions is pleased to announce today that Amazon Web Services (AWS) at the New York Technology Forum has named Quicket a winner of the AWS City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge for the Partners in Innovation Award category. The Forum, which hosts technology decision makers from across the country, highlights innovative technology solutions in the public sector. As a winner, Quicket will receive $25,000 in credits for AWS services. “Quicket has been recognized as a leader in cutting-edge technology solutions that help improve law enforcement operations and citizens’ lives. We are extremely excited that Quicket has been selected as the winner in the 2015 competition,” said Christiaan Burner, Quicket’s President and CEO. “The AWS Cloud is game-changing. With AWS, Quicket is able to rapidly deliver incredibly powerful IT resources through a simple subscription model without any upfront costs to our law enforcement clients.” Akshay Singh, Quicket’s Chief Technology Officer, added, “At a time when local law enforcement and municipal governments face intense demands and increased pressure to improve efficiency, Quicket Solutions provides extraordinary new tools to enhance officer and community safety and decrease administrative costs. We look forward to continue to use the AWS Cloud to serve and provide innovative solutions to law enforcement and the many other stakeholders of criminal justice information.” Quicket offers cloud-based electronic citation, report, evidence, and data analytics solutions for law enforcement. With the Quicket platform, efficiency and productivity gains are immediate. Quicket is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois at the EnterpriseWorks incubator. If you would like more information about Quicket Solutions, please contact Christiaan Burner at (630) 800-0774 or email at cburner@quicketsolutions.com.  

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    News Recognition & Awards Research Park

    Ameren’s Mary Heger Named Leader in STEM, Touts Research Park Innovation Center

    Ameren Vice President and CIO Mary Heger was named a leader in STEM by STEM Connector for her success within the company. In her essay for STEM Connector, Mary highlights how the University of Illinois and Research Park have helped Ameren to continue to excel and grow. Writes Mary Heger: “The Research Park provides an opportunity for technology-based businesses to collaborate with students and faculty. The University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign’s College of Engineering is among the highest ranked in the nation, and is highly sought after as a partner for pursuing information security for the energy industry. Since its opening, the Ameren Innovation Center has been collaborating with university students and faculty and other companies across multiple industries at the Research Park. “This really is all about our customers: The goal is to foster an exploratory environment that focuses on innovations to help Ameren better meet the future needs of our customers in Missouri and Illinois. It can’t be overstated why we are doing this: By fostering an innovative and collaborative environment at a world-class research university with access to top students and faculty, we can better leverage information technology to seize business opportunities and improve our customer satisfaction.” Mary also discussed Ameren’s plans to expand their research at their Innovation Center at Research Park. “We also plan to grow our projects at the Innovation Center to expand data analytics research. There are several active projects that can be applied immediately to enhance both customer and operational insights. A mobile application development center will be created to support our customer’s needs of getting information in real-time and on the go. And we’ll continue research in cybersecurity to ensure the safety and security of our assets and our customer data, as we all know data security is paramount in today’s environment. “Ameren has long backed a variety of academic research around energy-related technologies, and we’re pleased to support an acclaimed institute such as University of Illinois. Its special interest in science, engineering and business curricula intersects with our goal to support the development of tomorrow’s workforce in the energy sector.” This is not the first time Mary has been recognized for her career excellence. She has received the “Leader of Distinction” from the YWCA in 2010, and was recoginized by Diversity Journal as among their list of “Women Worth Watching” in 2011. In 2013, she was named one of the most influential business women in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal, and received Maryville University’s Deans’ Award in the School of Business in 2014.

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