Catalyst
The Catalyst newsletter is a monthly publication that spotlights components of the state’s innovation ecosystem. Each month, we feature a column written by a leader from the tech community, highlight innovation news in Illinois, or offer perspective on current issues in the innovation community. Catalyst is the best way to stay up-to-date on all things science and technology in Illinois.

Catalyst Conversations: Sustained Action for Gender Equity and the Planet
SUSTAINED ACTION FOR GENDER EQUITY AND THE PLANET March is Women’s History Month, a time to remember, celebrate and empower women. Historically, it has been celebrated to shine the light on women’s contributions to the world and highlight the work that remains to be...

Catalyst Conversations: 2021 Reflections and looking forward
2021 Reflections and Looking Forward History will remember 2021 as another year in unprecedented times. We have all gone through numerous changes, faced new challenges, and experienced great growth in all facets of life. In this edition of Catalyst, we ask some of...

Catalyst Conversations: The Power of Mentorship In Action
THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP IN ACTION On November 18, 2021, the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, in partnership with The Darkest Horse, hosted the first-ever Mentor Summit -- a virtual opportunity for leaders to collaborate, examine, and reflect on best...

Celebrating Women Within Innovation
Celebrating Women Within Innovation Last week, Friday (11/19/21) was Women’s Entrepreneurship Day--a celebration of the countless women who are so vital to the advancement of innovation and economic growth around the world. In this month’s Catalyst, we highlight a few...

Catalyst Conversations: DePaul’s Unique Approach to Entrepreneurship
Q&A WITH Maija Renko Professor and Coleman Chair of Entrepreneurship, DePaul University During the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurship has been critical for companies both large and small. In this issue of Catalyst Conversations, we chat with Maija...

Catalyst Conversations: Kaplan Institute Empowering the Next Generation of Tech Leaders
Q&A WITH MARYAM SALEH Executive Director of the Kaplan Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship, Illinois Institute of Technology In this issue of Catalyst, we sit down with Maryam Saleh, Executive Director of the Kaplan Institute for Innovation...

Support Illinois Innovation Vouchers
How leveraging the R&D resources of colleges and universities can boost our recovery. By Matthew Bragg, Director, ISTC Research and development (R&D) is the lifeblood of innovation. It’s the process by which businesses create new products and services to grow...

Catalyst Conversations: Innovation at Southern Illinois University
Illinois’ universities are regional economic hubs—attracting talent, conducting research and development activity, and fostering entrepreneurship that leads to the creation of strong jobs. In this Catalyst Conversations, we hear from Robert Patino, JD, Director of...

What the Biden Administration Means for Innovation
By Matthew Bragg, Director, ISTC With the Biden administration now in the White House, and a typically short window for substantive policy change, several innovation-related proposals seem likely to be considered in the months to come. In this Catalyst, we focus on...

Catalyst Conversations: Launching a Pioneering Quantum Startup
In October, we partnered with the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) to explore the evolving landscape of Quantum Information Science (QIS) in Illinois—including how researchers in the state are learning to harness the technology and building relationships with industry...

Beyond the Index: Innovating Through a Global Pandemic
Leveraging R&D collaborations to speedtrack Illinois’ economic recovery By Matthew Bragg, Director, ISTC Research & development (R&D) is the lifeblood of innovation. Illinois’ universities, businesses and federal labs all use R&D to create new...

Rising to the Challenges of Today’s Innovation Economy and Talent Pipeline
Welcome to this edition of Catalyst and thank you for your continued membership, partnership, and support. The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition and the Institute, even through these extraordinary times, have continued to lead in strengthening the state’s...

Catalyst Conversations: The Future of Quantum in Chicago
In May’s Catalyst, we partnered with the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) to explore the evolving landscape of Quantum Information Science (QIS)—including how Illinois researchers are learning to harness the technology and building relationships with industry along the...

We Must Do Better.
As our nation comes to grips with the systemic racism that has plagued our society for generations, it seems only appropriate to take stock of where Illinois’ tech community stands—and how we must do better. The numbers are grim. African-Americans make up nearly 15...

Beyond the Index: Entrepreneurship in Action
How two university-supported startups are taking on COVID-19 in very different ways. Last month, ISTC released its 2020 University Entrepreneurship Index, detailing record growth of Illinois’ university-supported startups. Over the past five years, entrepreneurs on...

5 Things to Know About Quantum Information Science
Quantum is a branch of physics that deals with the smallest particles in our universe. This field is relatively new and dynamic; we are only beginning to learn the ways in which we can apply quantum physics to our repertoire of technologies. One of the most promising...

How Illinois’ Innovation Community is Rising to the Challenge
Here's how Illinois' innovators, educators, and entrepreneurs are taking on COVID-19 COVID-19 may be the defining societal challenge of our time. Over the past several weeks, the magnitude of this challenge has increasingly come into focus—as too has the need to...

Catalyst Conversations: Opening Pathways to Engineering and Computer Science
Q&A WITh Doris Espiritu Executive Director of Engineering and Professor of Chemistry, City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College The City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) creates a critical talent pipeline for the city. The seven colleges that form the CCC...
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