Recognition & Awards

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists from Innovation Celebration, especially those with Research Park ties. The event, held on Feb. 27 at the NCSA building, was standing room only. The wiinners are listed in bold: Innovation Transfer Award – University of Illinois Dr. Stephen Boppart: winner, founder of I-Start company PhotonicareDr. Stephen SligarDr. Scott White Innovation in Engagement Award – Parkland College Kerris Lee – formerly with Lost Points and Cazoodle, Kerris has spent a lot of time at EnterpriseWorks. Entrepreneurial Excellence: Social Venture Award[co] [lab]PilotDr. Fouad Abd-El-Khalick & the EnLIST Team – University of Illinois Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup AwardKantWaitServabo – I-Start client at EnterpriseWorks. Congrats TIm and Nishana!Miss Possible Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture AwardPhi OpticsVeriflowElectroninks – EnterpriseWorks tenant and I-Start client. Congrats Brett and the team! Entrepreneurial Excellence: Advocacy AwardRay Price – iFoundryJed Taylor – U of I Technology Entrepreneur CenterDennis Beard – Serra Ventures. Dennis is a member of our Entrepreneur-in-Residence team; Serra’s offices are in Research Park.  Innovation: Economic Development Impact AwardFox AtkinsCarlos Nieto – Nieto EnterprisesWalter Lohmann Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management AwardDan Cermak – VolitionMike Folk – HDF GroupBill Cope – Common Ground Publishing Innovation: Longevity AwardAcoustic MedSystemsProminic.NETPavlov Media Here is a detailed wrap-up of the event from Don Dodson of the News-Gazette. 

Five outstanding interns working for companies in the Research Park, all students at the University of Illinois, were honored Aug 1. More than 400 highly-skilled student interns work for Research Park tenants, gaining valuable experience while making real contributions to internal corporate research and development programs. The 2013 winners are: Most Advanced Marketing/Business Development Intern: Megan Broom, senior in speech and hearing science, IMO (Intelligent Medical Objects, Inc.) Megan recommended new processes which will be implemented at the corporate level. Best Entrepreneurial Leadership in a Startup: Yuyan Hua, graduate student in Materials Science and Engineering, Serionix “Diligent and aggressive,” in less than three months Yuyan helped Serionix progress on a project that has resulted in a minimal viable product being ready for customer evaluation. Best Tech Innovation in the Research Park: Josh Eckhardt, senior in Computer Science, Caterpillar Josh’s technical contribution to a web-based optimization tool is now being applied, and in just one manufacturing facility shows an initial cost reduction of $1 to 2 million. Most Valuable Graduate Student in the Research Park: Dan Zhou, doctoral student in Food Science and Human Nutrition, Abbott Dan translated scientific evidence into talking points and other information that can be used to educate policymakers on key Abbott Nutrition health policy issues. Most Valuable Undergraduate Student in the Research Park: Daniel Loeblich, junior in Chemical Engineering, Dioxide Materials Daniel’s work has accelerated company efforts to bring its CO2 sensor to market and made other important contributions to patent-pending fabrications. Finalists in each category are: Most Valuable Graduate Student in the Research Park:Julie Honneger, Agricultural and Biological Engineering graduate student, Waterborne Environmental; Shuai Wang, Educational Psychology graduate student, State Farm Research and Development Center Most Valuable Undergraduate Student in the Research Park: Sam Rappeport, Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate, Serionix; Bryan Plummer, Computer Science undergraduate, State Farm Research and Development Center Best Tech Innovation in the Research Park: Cristina Abad, doctoral student in Computer Science, Yahoo!; Brian Doherty, Computer Science undergraduate, IMO Best Entrepreneurial Leadership in a Startup: Siddhant Morakhia, General Engineering undergraduate, BioAnalytics Most Advanced Marketing/Business Development Intern: Michelle Kwak, Industrial Design undergraduate, John Deere Technology Innovation Center

Several companies and individuals with close ties to Research Park won awards at Thursday night’s 7th annual Innovation Celebration. Research Park director Laura Frerichs was the emcee for the event, which took place at the Beckman Institute. Innovation Celebration recognizes 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 our community. The winners with Research Park ties include: Brian Jurczyk, co-founder of Starfire Industries, won the Entrepreneurial Excellence in Management Award. The company, an EnterpriseWorks graduate that remains in the Research Park, employs 17 and is a leader in neutron sources and plasma engineering. Nuvixa, founded in 2009 by electrical and computer engineering Associate Professor Sanjay Patel, won the New Venture Award. The company, based at EnterpriseWorks, has used new sensing devices, advanced algorithms, and new computing power to expand the potential of video presentations. Serionix, founded by materials science doctoral student Jim Langer, won the Student Startup Award. The company is developing technologies for air and water purification. Serionix recently moved into space at EnterpriseWorks. Scott Daigle and Marissa Siebel of IntelliWheels received the Social Entrepreneurship Award for developing an automatic gear-shifting system for wheelchairs. The device reduces shoulder pain for those using wheelchairs. IntelliWheels is housed at EnterpriseWorks. Professor Dave Kranz, co-founder of both Immuven and Biodisplay, won the Technology Transfer Award. Immuven, an EnterpriseWorks tenant, is developing new drugs based on the engineering of T-cell receptor proteins. Yi Lu, co-founder of ANDalyze Inc., received the Innovation Discovery Award. A professor of chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics, he has 41 invention disclosures and 14 issued patents. ANDalyze Inc. is an EnterpriseWorks graduate and Research Park tenant. Liz Kellner won the Entrepreneur Advocacy Award for nearly 20 years of work to support and encourage entrepreneurship in the community. She has worked at the Technology Commercialization Lab, in TechCommunity and with the Second Saturdays group. Kellner is the entrepreneurship specialist at Singleton Law Firm, a tenant in the Research Park.

NEW ORLEANS — The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) named the Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the 2011 Outstanding Research Park during its annual Awards of Excellence ceremony on Dec. 1. The awards were presented at the AURP 2011 International Conference in New Orleans. The 16th Annual AURP Awards of Excellence recognize the achievements of outstanding research parks and industry veterans and encourages the development of best practices among research and science parks. “AURP recognizes exceptional leadership in innovation by honoring university research parks, individuals and companies who are driving innovation in their communities,” said AURP President Harold Strong. “Among this year’s AURP Awards of Excellence recipients, we are proud to name the Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the 2011 AURP Outstanding Research Park.” The Outstanding Research/Science Park Achievement Award recognizes parks that excel in bringing technology from the laboratory to economically viable business activities, thus promoting the growth of businesses, jobs and public revenue. “Over the last 10 years, the Research Park has had a significant impact on its community by incubating new startups, attracting large corporations to the region and creating jobs,” said Strong. “The Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has demonstrated leadership in the research park profession and is deserving of the honor and recognition as the 2011 Outstanding Research Park.” Laura Frerichs, Director of Research Park, accepted the award on behalf of the University of Illinois. “We are honored to receive this recognition, especially as we culminate our 10th anniversary celebration,” Frerichs said. “It reinforces our continuing efforts to build a community of technology entrepreneurship – one that fosters collaboration between the university and industry in addition to creating opportunities for faculty, staff, students, and members of the community at large.” About AURP: The Association of University Research Parks is a professional association of more than 700 university related research and science parks. AURP’s mission is to foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth through university, industry and government partnerships. For more information, visit AURP’s Web site at www.aurp.net or contact Chelsea Simpson at chelseasimpson@aurp.net.