Grant Announcement: NSF Small Business Innovation Research
Program Phase I Solicitation FY-2011
Grants.gov
August 31, 2010
The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent agency of the
Federal Government, invites eligible small businessconcerns to
submit Phase I proposals for its FY 2011 Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) program. NSF will support highquality projects on
important scientific, engineering, or science and engineering
education problems and opportunities that could leadto significant
commercial and public benefit if the research is successful.
State of Illinois Launches 2010 Innovate Illinois
Competition
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
September 1, 2010
The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) and the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched the
sixth annual Innovate Illinois competition on August 9. Innovate
Illinois recognizes high-growth businesses in Illinois that have
launched or plan to launch an innovative product or service. The
four top companies will win a total of $80,000 in cash prizes. The
CEC, an affiliate of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, will
facilitate this year's program.
Frontier Communications Plans $40 Million Investment in Illinois
Broadband
The State Journal-Register
August 31, 2010
Frontier Communications, which serves mainly rural areas and
smaller communities, plans to spend more than $40 million to expand
broadband service in Illinois over the next 12 months. "What we are
trying to do is give people the flexibility to live and work
anywhere they want and have the same telecommunication
infrastructure as if they worked in Chicago," said Maggie
Wilderotter, chairman and CEO of Frontier. "It's important for us
to provide that capability in these small towns."
Innovation, Diversity Key to Economic
Survival
Rockford Register Star
August 28, 2010
A story in Saturday's Register Star by Sean Driscoll told of nearly
4,000 professional and business service jobs that have been lost in
Rockford since the recession began. While some companies have done
an impressive job of readjusting their focus and retaining jobs in
the area, the future for other unemployed people is bleak. It will
take a combination of training, education, incentives and
public-private partnerships for a culture of innovation to take
hold.
Regional Clustering and Innovation Strengthen Exports, Report
Finds
State Science & Technology Institute Weekly Digest
August 25, 2010
"Strong Manufacturing and patent producing metropolitan areas
generate the highest shares of exports from their output,"
according to a recent Brookings report. Researchers at the
Brookings Institute found that the top exporting U.S. metros also
were significantly more innovative. In this study, innovation was
defined by the rate of patent production. Metros with regional
clusters also were more likely to export than those without strong
regional clusters. The report recommends that U.S. metros should
develop metropolitan export initiatives that focus on innovation to
increase their export capabilities and modernize their economic
development strategy from 20th century thinking to 21st century
action on export oriented economic growth.
SIUC Expo to Highlight Technology, Innovation
The Southern
August 22, 2010
An event showcasing technology and innovation at Southern Illinois
University Carbondale is set for this fall, giving inventors and
researchers an opportunity to mingle with business and industry
representatives who might see potential in their work. SIUC
Technology and Innovation Expo - Fall 2010 is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 8
at Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center in Carbondale. Tickets
are $25. Space is limited to the first 150 registrants.
Governor Quinn Announces More Than $106 Million in Federal Awards
for Broadband Infrastructure: Four Public-Private Technology
Projects will Create 600 Jobs
State of Illinois
August 19, 2010
Governor Pat Quinn announced more than $106 million in federal
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to improve
broadband access across Illinois. Approximately $38 million in
Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding and $23 million in
matching funds from local partners helped secure the federal
awards. "Building information infrastructure brings jobs and
high-speed Internet access to underserved areas," said Governor
Quinn. "This significant federal funding is a major win for
Illinois and will support economic development across our state."
The four projects will create approximately 600 direct jobs, invest
more than $160 million into the Illinois economy, and directly
connect more than 1,000 institutions - including schools,
hospitals, libraries, police and fire stations - to ultra
high-speed information and communication networks.
Illinois Shut Out from Race to the Top Education
Grants
Chicago Breaking News Center
August 24, 2010
Illinois was not selected as a winner Tuesday in a federal contest
to reform public schools across the country. Federal officials
picked nine states and the District of Columbia as winners to share
$3.4 billion for sweeping reforms. They were selected from a pool
of 18 finalists. The state's loss took many by surprise after
Illinois placed fifth in the first round of the Race to the Top
competition back in April.
Chad Mirkin's Third Nanotech Startup Generates
Buzz
Crain's Chicago Business
August 24, 2010
Chad Mirkin, a poker enthusiast, likes playing against long odds.
The Northwestern University professor of biomedical engineering is
launching his third-and potentially most potent-startup based on
the small-scale science of nanotechnology. Evanston-based AuraSense
LLC is developing a therapy that uses tiny gold particles coated
with proteins to mimic HDL, the "good cholesterol," by scooping
harmful plaque from arteries and ferrying it out of the body. He's
going after a mostly untapped market that industry pundits believe
is worth billions.
Area Wind Farm to Create 800 Jobs, $122 Million Impact
Locally
Pantagraph News
August 18, 2010
Construction of a proposed wind farm in northeastern McLean County
could generate more than 800 jobs and have a $122 million impact on
the local economy, the county's Zoning Board of Appeals was told
Wednesday.
Governor Quinn Signs Bill to Increase Solar Energy Use
in Illinois
State of Illinois
August 17, 2010
Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that promotes energy
independence by furthering the use of solar power by individuals
and by industry. The new laws establish strengthened targets for
utilities that will be purchasing more solar energy and help
homeowners who want to increase their solar energy usage.
Illinois Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit to
Support 20,000 New Jobs
State of Illinois, Illinois Science & Technology
Coalition
August 12, 2010
Governor Pat Quinn announced today the Illinois Small Business Job
Creation Tax Credit. Signed in April, the law offers to businesses
with fifty or fewer employees a $2500 tax credit for jobs created
between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. Said Quinn, "This tax
credit will help our small business owners and operators to grow by
creating 20,000 jobs over the next year." The total amount of
credits available is limited, so qualifying businesses should apply
immediately. A one-page summary of law is available here. Details and tools for applying are located
at http://JobsTaxCredit.illinois.gov/.
ISTC President & CEO Matthew Summy Selected to Participate in
International Exchange to Taiwan
Illinois Science & Technology Coalition
July 26, 2010
Matthew Summy, President & CEO of the Illinois Science and
Technology Coalition, has been selected by The American Council of
Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) as a delegate to Taiwan for a 7-day
leadership exchange program beginning on August 2, 2010. He will
join six other civic and policy leaders from across the United
States to study Taiwan's leadership structure, participate in
discussions on international issues, and establish professional
relationships. This program is arranged by ACYPL and is made
possible by a grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs at the US Department of State.
ITI to Collaborate with Korea on Smart Grid
Security
University of Illinois, Information Trust Institute
July 22, 2010
The Information Trust Institute (ITI) at the University of Illinois
has just entered into a cooperative research partnership with a
research agency of the South Korean government. The agreement,
which is the first step in building a collaborative research and
development program focusing on "smart" power grid security, is one
component of a larger, coordinated set of energy-related research
agreements that are simultaneously taking place between South Korea
and various research facilities in Illinois.
Quinn signs tax credits bill at Abbott
ceremony
Daily Herald
June 24, 2010
Representatives from several pharmaceutical and health care
companies looked on Wednesday as Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill
designed to promote innovation and create jobs in Illinois.
The meeting with government and business officials took place at
Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago. Quinn signed Senate Bill
3655, which extends the Research and Development Tax Credit that
will help foster economic growth and innovation by providing
Illinois companies with an incentive to increase their research
activities in the state.
Government devotes more brainpower and money
to cybersecurity
The Washington Post
June 22, 2010
Cybersecurity, fast becoming Washington's growth industry of
choice, appears to be in line for a multibillion-dollar injection
of federal research dollars, according to a senior intelligence
official. Delivering the keynote address at a recent cybersecurity
summit sponsored by Defense Daily, Dawn Meyerriecks, deputy
director of national intelligence for acquisition and technology,
said that along with the White House Office of Science and
Technology, her office is going to sponsor major research "where
the government's about to spend multiple billions of dollars."
OpEd: With collaboration, Chicago can
be hub of green innovation
Crain's Chicago Business
May 24, 2010
Chicago is home to leading companies in biotechnology, electronics
and aerospace, and a host of growing information technology
companies. We have great educational institutions and two national
laboratories, Argonne and Fermilab. This suite of organizations
promises a steady flow of new knowledge, inventions and products -
the kind of economic and public benefits one expects from an
innovation ecology.
Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Study Energy
Performance of State Buildings
State of Illinois
May 22, 2010
Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that initiates a study of the
energy performance of state-owned buildings. This process sets the
stage for the state to adopt more comprehensive energy efficiency
benchmarks for existing state buildings. "Illinois is
committed to being a leader in the green movement," said Governor
Quinn. "This bill is the first step in creating standards for
energy efficiency at existing state buildings and further addresses
the state's green goals."
JCL Bioassay Opens North American Headquarters in
Illinois
State of Illinois
May 21, 2010
Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Japanese biopharmaceutical
company JCL Bioassay USA, Inc. is locating its North American
headquarters and its first-ever domestic facility in Hoffman
Estates. This move will bring 30 new jobs to the region over the
next two years.
U of I Agricultural and Biological
Engineering Graduate Program Ranks #1
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
April 19, 2010
U.S. News & World Report recently announced its 2010 ranking of
the best engineering schools in the United States. U.S. News
surveyed 198 programs to get the information used in the ranking.
This year, the top-ranked graduate program in agricultural and
biological engineering was awarded to the Department of
Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University of Illinois program
received the highest ranking tied with Purdue University, followed
by Texas A&M University, Cornell University, and University of
California Davis to fill the top five spots.
