Why Illinois?

As the home of over 200 institutions of higher education, with combined enrollment near 900,000 students, as well as several prestigious national labs, the State of Illinois is uniquely positioned as a Midwestern and national leader in science and technology research and development. (Illinois Board of Higher Education)  

 

AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FUNDING Illinois universities continue to effectively leverage the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) by capturing awards.  As of November 2009, the major research universities in Illinois have earned over $244.7 million in ARRA research and development funds for projects ranging from cancer research and the genetics of diabetes to lithium-ion battery improvements.  Together, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have earned over $302.7 million for research and development activities as well as facility improvements.  This robust investment is a recognition of the talent and resources in our state and enhances Illinois' leadership in science and technology research and development. Learn more.

ILLINOIS: A CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY

World-Class Research

• Illinois is a center for biotechnology research and development and ranks highly among U.S. states:
  • In 2006, Illinois ranked second nationally in conferring bioscience-related degrees. (BIO Technology, Talent and Capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008)
  • Illinois is the top producer of biomass, plant material from which other products can be made. (iBIO)
• Illinois is home to world-renowned university programs, federal labs and leading businesses or corporations including: Abbott Laboratories, Argonne National Laboratories, Astellas Pharma, Baxter International, Hospira, Takeda and many smaller firms and start-ups. (DCEO)
• In Illinois, academic research expenditures in the biosciences totaled $1.2 billion in 2006, mainly in medical sciences ($613 million) and biological sciences ($372 million). (BIO Technology, Talent and Capital: State Bioscience Initiatives 2008) 

 

ILLINOIS: A CENTER FOR CLEAN ENERGY

Bio-fuels

• Illinois is one of the top producers of ethanol in the United States with six ethanol fuel plants operating at a total capacity of approximately 800 million gallons per year of ethanol.
• Illinois has more than 140 biodiesel stations. To encourage use of biofuels, the Illinois Alternate Fuels Rebate Program offers rebates to anyone using E-85 or biodiesel fuels, and for acquiring vehicles that run on alternate fuels. (Illinois Green Fleets)

Wind

• In 2008, Illinois ranked 8th in existing wind capacity at 744-megawatts, and has 5,500-megawatts of planned wind power in development. (American Wind Energy Association)
• Illinois ranks 7^th in the nation of number of community wind projects. For example, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative, the first co-op in Illinois to utilize wind power, serves more than 10,000 consumers throughout 10 western-central Illinois counties. (Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative)

Coal

• Illinois has robust coal resources ranking third for the most recoverable coal reserves in the country. (U.S. Department of Energy)
• Because of our ample coal supply and geological characteristics, Mattoon, Illinois was chosen in 2007 by the FutureGen Alliance as the site for a landmark clean coal energy plant. FutureGen is a public-private partnership among the U.S. Department of Energy and 14 of the world's largest coal producers to design, build, and operate the world's first coal-fueled, near-zero emissions power plant. 

 

ILLINOIS: A CENTER FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY

• Investment in nanotechnology in Illinois is not a new phenomenon, which is demonstrated in the diversity and scope of research and development activities in the state. The May 2007 Small Times magazine survey noted:
  • Illinois' strength in nanotechnology is derived from the numerous research centers and laboratories in the state, making Illinois an "unparalleled multi-disciplinary environment for cutting-edge basic and translational research."
  • Illinois is also ranked seventh in microtechnology research, and ninth in microtechnology commercialization.
•  Illinois is already a leader for high-tech jobs.
  • According to TechAmerica and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois ranks No. 7 in high-tech employment. Forty-two of every 1,000 private sector workers in Illinois are employed by high-tech firms.
• There are currently several leading research institutes operating in Illinois that focus on areas of nanotechnology ranging from nanomanufacturing and nanobiosystems to molecular and electronic nanostructures Source: Illinois.gov:
       Center for Nanoscale Materials - Argonne National Laboratory
       Nano-CEMMS (Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems)
       - University of Illinois, Northwestern University and other university partners
      Institute for Nanotechnology - Northwestern University
      Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology - University of Illinois
      The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology - University of Illinois
      Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory - University of Illinois
      The James Franck Institute - University of Chicago