ISTC in the News

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition Selected to Facilitate State’s New Innovation Voucher Program in Collaboration with DCEO
Posted March 12,2024 | Source: ISTC

The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) proudly announces its selection to lead the state’s Innovation Voucher Program, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
(DCEO).


Governor Pritzker Announces $3 Million Innovation Voucher Program
Posted March 11, 2024  | Source:DCEO

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced $3 million in available grant funding through the Innovation Voucher Program.


ISTC Unveils New Illinois Innovation Index Report on STEM Talent 
Posted March 7, 2024 | Source: ISTC

This report showcases the strength of the Illinois STEM talent pool and offers valuable insights for employers seeking to harness the full potential of the state’s workforce.


Innovate Springfield’s Sangamon CEO program mentor matching program for high school students
Posted November 13th 2023 | Source: https://newschannel20.com/

Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s (UIS) downtown business incubator, is partnering with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) to create a professional mentorship matching program for high school students in the Sangamon CEO program.


ISTC’s Venture Engine Recieves Scaling Funds From GET Cities Chicago
Posted May 31, 2023 | Source: www.einnews.com

After their initial success, Venture Engine® is one of 5 programs will use the funds to scale their impact, creating a more equitable landscape for Chicago’s tech scene.


ISTC Supports Chicago Innovation Summit on Food Innovation 
Posted May 4, 2023 | Source: www.prnewswire.com

The event, led by World Business Chicago, and opened by Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, focuses on the future of food, a topic of growing importance in the global venture landscape.


ISTC Education partners with Horizon Educational to Help Bring Hydrogen Grand Prix to the Midwest
Posted April 30, 2023 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com

Hosted by Horizon Educational, in partnership with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, the race was the first of its kind in this region. Horizon and the technology coalition also partnered with the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, known as MachH2, for the race.


ISTC Announces Partnerhsip with Horizon Educational and MacH2 to Bring Hydrogen Education programming to Chicago Schools
Posted March 9, 2023 | Source: www.horizoneducational.com

The H2GP initiative is a global school-based science and engineering program run by Horizon Educational, providing hands-on experience designing, engineering and racing remote-controlled fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen.


ISTC Illinois Innovation Index on University Entrepreneurship Data Cited as Support for Startup Visa
Posted February 21, 2023 | Source: www.chicagobusiness.com

Though they account for approximately 17% of the workforce, immigrants have started 55% of America’s unicorns, privately held companies valued at $1 billion or more. Given this, you would think our immigration system would fully embrace the immigrant founder, but alas, this is not the case. U.S. immigration laws do not have a specific “startup visa.”


ISTC Illnois Innovation Index on STEM Talent Data Cited in Support of Women in STEM Careers
Posted February 24, 2023 | Source: chicago.suntimes.com

Young women still face long odds when it comes to learning about, exploring and entering STEM careers. Both for their benefit and the good of the economy, we must find ways to bring more of them in.


ISTC’s Illinois Innovation Index on University Entrepreneurship Data Cited in Support to Help Laid Off Tech Workers with H-1B Visas
Posted January 25, 2023 | Source: www.prnewswire.com

Immigrants strengthen innovation and increase the demand for labor while helping to drive the economy forward. 40% of software engineers in the U.S. are foreign born. In Chicago alone, 21 Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or the child of an immigrant and 42% of university-supported startups in Illinois are founded by at least one immigrant entrepreneur according to the Illinois Innovation Index report by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition.


ISTC’s Illinois Innovation Index on STEM Talent Data Cited to Support Chicago Biotech Consortium’s Program to Keep Startups in Chicago
Posted May 1, 2022 | Source: www.chicagobusiness.com

In an effort to grow Chicago’s biotechnology sector and encourage more home-grown companies to remain in the city, the Chicago Biomedical Consortium has launched a fellowship program for aspiring biotech entrepreneurs.


TechNexus Venture Collaborative Joins ISTC & World Business Chicago’s Venture Engine Program as Innovation Partner
Posted November  29, 2021 | Source: www.technexus.com

TechNexus Venture Collaborative has joined the Venture Engine program as a sponsor and innovation partner. Powered by Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) and World Business Chicago (WBC), Venture Engine connects Illinois’ most promising startups to the state’s most innovative, industry-leading corporations.


Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and World Business Chicago launch Venture Engine
Posted September 22, 2021 | Source: www.worldchicagobusiness.com

The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC) and World Business Chicago (WBC) today announced the launch of Venture Engine, a new program connecting the state’s most promising startups with innovation-focused corporations. By leveraging a statewide network of universities, incubators, accelerators, and investment groups, Venture Engine will create meaningful connections between startups and corporations that boost innovation and job creation in the state.


ISTC President and CEO honored as a Crain’s Chicago Business Notable LGBTQ leader for the third time


Immigrant entrepreneurs can fuel Chicago’s COVID recovery
Posted March 31, 2021 | Source: www.chicagobusiness.com

ISTC talks about the growth of Chicago’s startup community being stifled by an outdated immigration system. The time for change is now, as the economy reopens—and the “startup visa” can be key to that success.


Frerichs Elected Board Chair
Posted March 17,2021 | Source: www.researchpark.illinois.edu

The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition and Institute (ISTC/I) today announced the election of Laura Frerichs, Executive Director of the University of Illinois Research Park as chair of its board of directors.


Representation Matters
Posted October 30, 2020 | Source: www.chicagobusiness.com

ISTC CEO, Colleen D. Egan writes about the diversity of thought and experience being key to innovation and the most innovative companies are the most successful.


ISTC Illinois Innovation Index ranks top companies for patents
Posted August 15, 2019 | Source: www.wglt.org

State Farm was issued 200 patents in 2018, ranking it No. 4 behind only Caterpillar, IBM, and Motorola Mobility, according to the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition’s latest Illinois Innovation Index. Illinois ranked 7th in patents issued to businesses in the U.S., with 6,788 patents in 2018.


ISTC Illinois Innovation Index on Research and Development Data Cited on IL Universities’ Pivitol Role in Powering the Chicago Startup Ecosystem
Posted February 20, 2018 | Source: www.forbes.com

In 2016, Illinois produced a record 40,400 STEM degrees, outpacing the nation by growing its number of STEM graduates by 10.6% versus the average 6.5%. This growth represents a concerted effort by Illinois universities to create more STEM programs for students, and then keep them engaged after they graduate.


‘We love the Dreamers’: Trump close to decision on future of Obama program
Posted September 1, 2017 | Source:www.theguardian.com

ISTC included in America’s world-leading technology chiefs and dozens of business leaders who sent an open letter to Trump urging him not to kill off DACA.


Bootstrapping in America: Mark Harris discusses the latest Index report
Posted March 15, 2017 | Source: www.tastytrade.com

Thank you to Kristi Ross and Tony Battista at TastyTrade for having us to discuss the latest issue of the Illinois Innovation Index.


Illinois universities see surge in startups
Posted March 13, 2017 | Source: www.fox32chicago.com

David Rabie, Mark Harris, Rebecca Sholiton and Ryan Shelton join Good Day Chicago to give us a firsthand look at why Illinois is a hotbed for startups.


University startups surge as Illinois students start more companies, land more funding
March 8, 2017 Source: www.chicagotribune.com

Despite a fall in recent venture capital activity on the national level, Illinois university startups have seen a rise in funding. That’s according to the annual Illinois Innovation Index report released Wednesday by the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, primarily based on data self-reported by universities in the state.


Campus startup spinoff efforts paying off in Illinois; immigrants often lead the way
March 8, 2017 Source: www.forbes.com

University efforts in Illinois to boost entrepreneurship and link big thinkers with seed cash and startup partners seem to be paying off. And immigrants are playing an outsize role in campus spinoffs. Those were two takeaways from the just-released Illinois Innovation Index, produced annually by the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition.


Illinois universities nearly double startups
March 8, 2017 Source: www.chicagobusiness.com

Illinois universities are cranking out a lot more startups. There were 285 companies started last year by students, faculty or staff at Illinois schools last year, up from about 150 in each of the previous two years, according to a report by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition. It’s an eye-popping figure. And it’s not clear how much the data reflect an explosion of startup output from universities and how much comes from better reporting.