University of Illinois Research Park

🚀 From Grant to Growth: Leveraging SBIR for Investor Readiness Are you ready to turn your SBIR/STTR award into a springboard for future investment? Join the FAST Center of Illinois and our team of SBIR experts for an insightful webinar designed to help early-stage companies bridge the gap between non-dilutive funding and venture capital. 🗓 Tuesday, November 18, 2025 🕑 2:00 – 3:00 PM (CT) 💻 Free virtual event | Registration required In this session, we’ll explore how to align your government-funded R&D with investor expectations and position your company for long-term growth. What you’ll learn: ✅ Building a business model that attracts venture capital ✅ Using SBIR/STTR grants as a foundation for future fundraising ✅ Crafting a compelling investor narrative ✅ Demonstrating market validation, scalability, and growth potential 🎙 Featuring Anna Lisa Somera, Founder of Rhaeos, Inc. Anna Lisa brings years of experience helping startups translate SBIR/STTR funding into investor-ready strategies. She’ll share actionable insights on connecting the dots between grant funding and venture investment. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to transform your SBIR/STTR success into sustained business growth. 👉 Register now to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/eQcXYfFD 📬 Want to stay up to date on upcoming FAST Center webinars, events, and resources? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g86pu7nS 📽 Recording notice: This event will be recorded and made publicly available. Learn more about SBIR/STTR resources at the FAST Center of Illinois: https://lnkd.in/g4GKS665 #SBIR #STTR #StartupFunding #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #FASTCenterIllinois #SmallBusinessGrowth #NonDilutiveFunding

Congratulations to EnterpriseWorks graduate and University of Illinois Research Park company, EarthSense, Inc., on its achievements at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale on Oct. 17, 2025. At the competition, CEO Chinmay Soman pitched against top startups from 60+ countries for a $1 million investment prize. The company develops AI-powered farming robots and farming-as-a-service solutions globally. EarthSense machine vision and machine learning-based analytics seamlessly convert field data to specific, actionable information about plant-traits. Learn more about EarthSense on the Research Park website: https://lnkd.in/gX9mnQMi

Welcome MSA Professional Services to Research Park! We are excited to have your team in our on-campus tech community, and look forward to future collaborations.

Arpit Dwivedi's drive to bring accessible, affordable energy to all took another step forward on Thursday as Cache Energy celebrated the opening of its Champaign manufacturing home. Cache's innovative approach to long duration energy storage by charging a low-cost, plentiful material has drawn customers from coast (Alaska) to coast (southeastern United States). Its growth trajectory is now charging ahead at full speed. "We have a bold vision for the future – one where low-cost, reliable energy is accessible to every American," stated Dwivedi, Founder of Cache Energy, in a news release shared by Governor JB Pritzker. "I’m proud to stand with my team and the State of Illinois as we launch this great partnership. Together, through Cache, we’re creating high-quality jobs and advancing cutting-edge energy projects right here in Illinois. This further strengthens our commitment to a fully domestic energy supply chain, reinforcing both Illinois and America's leadership in energy security and resilience." It truly takes a village to launch a startup like Cache Energy from EnterpriseWorks into the broader community, where its team continues to grow at the Apollo Industrial Park on the far north side of Champaign. That includes support, direct assistance and resources from the Champaign County EDC, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, The Atkins Group, the City of Champaign, and many areas of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign entrepreneurship ecosystem. It was at EnterpriseWorks where the team jelled into a strong core unit that remains to this day, while it is in north Champaign where the company has found space to accommodate its in-house manufacturing vision. Cache's new 10,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will create 20 new jobs beyond its current workforce. The $2.5 million investment from Cache Energy is supported by a Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) agreement with DCEO. "We're proud that Cache Energy continues to grow in Champaign and has chosen a location in Apollo Industrial Park as their new manufacturing facility," said Carly McCrory-McKay, Executive Director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. "By choosing to build its long-duration energy storage solutions here—and creating new jobs—the company is not only accelerating the innovation of the energy storage industry but also strengthening our local economy and workforce capabilities." Congrats to the entire team - we will continue to root for your every success! Learn more about Cache Energy here:  https://lnkd.in/eRkG-9H7   Paul Ginsberg Mark Lovell Amulya Nimmagadda Morgan Soderlund, MPH #cleantech #energytech #ILLINOIS #startup #Weproducefounders

📢📢Calling all University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students 🔸🔹 Our Synchrony team will be visiting Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign next Tuesday (11/4/25) and would love to meet you! Stop by the atrium to chat with our company reps, learn about our early career and internship opportunities, and find out what makes Synchrony one of the best places to launch your career (oh and did I mention that we were named the #2 best company to work for in the U.S. by Fortune and Great Place To Work in 2025 🏆). Come say hi, ask questions, and grab some fun swag while you’re at it! 🎉 📍 Gies College of Business 📅 11/4/25 11AM-2PM 🌟open to students from all majors 👉Make sure you register for the event on Handshake - https://lnkd.in/eNRY2psy See you there, Illini! 👏 #UIUC #UIRP #university #students #earlycareer #internship

On Oct. 8-11, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign celebrated Founders Week, showcasing our innovative ecosystem that fosters groundbreaking ventures. The event brought together investors, students, alumni, and industry leaders, reinforcing the power of our collaborative entrepreneurial community where ideas become companies and entrepreneurs find the connections and resources they need to succeed. As we marked the 25th Anniversary of the University of Illinois Research Park alongside Illinois Ventures, the Technology Entrepreneur Center, and the Office of Technology Management, we not only celebrated a quarter-century of impact but looked ahead to the next 25 years of innovation and entrepreneurial growth. The University of Illinois Research Park was proud to partner with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, University of Illinois System Office of the Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation, Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, The Grainger College of Engineering, Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship, Technology Entrepreneur Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office of Technology Management, Corporate Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, iVenture Accelerator, Illinois Ventures, TechRise Chicago, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Dimond Bros. Insurance, LLC University of Illinois Foundation, Serra Ventures, LLC, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION, RedFire CPA, LLC and numerous others to make Founders Week possible. Stay tuned to the Founders Week webpage for more of the highlights from this year's event: https://lnkd.in/gARCCwau

🟠 Join Our Team at the University of Illinois Research Park🔵 We are seeking an Administrative Aide to provide high-level support to the Associate Vice Chancellor/Executive Director of the Research Park and EnterpriseWorks, as well as the Director of Entrepreneurship and Associate Director of Operations. This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of innovation, corporate engagement, and economic development—supporting a community of more than 2,000 professionals advancing the future of technology and entrepreneurship in Illinois. 🔵 Key Responsibilities * Manage complex calendars, correspondence, and workflows for senior leadership * Coordinate meetings, travel, and events with professionalism and discretion * Serve as the first point of contact for department communications * Oversee office administration, purchasing, and expense reconciliation * Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and organizational excellence 🟠 What We’re Looking For An organized, proactive professional who exercises sound judgment, manages multiple priorities seamlessly, and thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment. If you’re ready to contribute to a team that drives innovation and builds connections between academia, startups, and industry, we invite you to apply. 🔵 Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gTxWTkfE 🟠 University of Illinois Research Park | EnterpriseWorks Where ideas grow into impact.

Congratulations to Genective on being named the Top Agriculture Biotech Solution 2025 by Agri Business Review 🏆 Headquartered at the University of Illinois Research Park, Genective is pioneering a new class of insect control proteins and developing traits effective against resistant pests. Its work is helping growers thrive and strengthening the future of agriculture. Learn more about the award here: https://lnkd.in/gcrHdN_f LIMAGRAIN

25 years ago, the University of Illinois System deployed a vision: to develop 200 acres of legacy agricultural research land into a modern Research Park. The goals for the Research Park, underneath the broader pillar of economic development, included: 🟧 Incubator Facilities to encourage new startup companies, many of them commercializing campus research 🟧Commercial buildings for developing and mature companies 🟧Facilities to house closely-allied University activities That vision was achieved, thanks to multifaceted public-private partnerships -- a private developer, university leadership, support from the State of Illinois and City of Champaign, and many others. Today, the Research Park encompasses 19 buildings and growing development with more than 100 companies and 2100 employees, and startups from the incubator that have raised more than $1.4 billion in venture capital. The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission completed an economic impact assessment in October 2025 for the Research Park that states that the last five years of employment have contributed $1.8B in economic impact from direct, indirect, and induced jobs, or $375M per year. Taxes paid by these employees locally and in the state of Illinois total $15M a year. Total construction in the Research Park has had an economic output of $254 million. There are many people and organizations that have been instrumental in making the Research Park the vibrant community it is today. Many of them were recognized on Wednesday at a community celebration marking the silver anniversary milestone. Remarks were delivered by current and former members of the UIRP Board of Managers, Patrick F Daly, Ed McMillan, and Scott Rose; Adrienne Hays from Fox Development Corporation; Mark Dixon from The Atkins Group; Mayor Deborah Feinen of the City of Champaign; Susan Martinis representing the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and former administrator David L. Chicoine via video. The event was emceed by executive director Laura Appenzeller, who has spent 21 years of her career working to develop and grow Research Park into a national model for industry-university engagement. "(Former developer) Peter Fox has always believed that engagement and proximity are force multipliers," said Hays. "That if you bring researchers, entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 teams, and students into daily contact, you don’t just speed innovation, you normalize it. And that is exactly what this Park has done for a quarter century." The Research Park is moving into its next quarter century with plenty of momentum: a housing development aiming to break ground in 2026 as well as a second-stage incubator advancing to reality. And that's just the start of what looks like to be another fantastic 25 years! Cheers to all who have played a role - it truly takes a village. #UIRP #Chambana #ILLINOIS

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Charles Isbell recently visited the University of Illinois Research Park to explore how companies and faculty contribute to the university's mission. During the visit, he toured facilities and met with companies, including Rivian, Iridescent Sensors Inc. and Riverbed Technology, creating opportunities to discuss strategies for the Research Park's continued growth and future development. Thank you for visiting, Chancellor Isbell!