ISTC/I in the News – 2015
Let’s Talk About Chicago’s Tech Talent
Posted December 1, 2015 | Source: www.chicagoinno.com
According to the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC), more than two-thirds (68%) of startups founded in Illinois universities from 2009 to 2014 remain in the state today. The ISTC’s study found that a total of 576 university startups were created during that time, and 78% are active today.” [Of] startups coming out of universities, the vast majority of them are staying in Illinois to build and grow their company,” said Mark Harris, head of ISTC. “That to us is a very strong and positive sign that the pieces are in place, whether that is talent, funding, networks, customers, are here in the region, and companies are able to grow as a result of that.”
10 companies participate in the Caterpillar startup challenge
Posted November 4, 2015 | Source: www.caterpillar.com
I think it’s worthwhile to bring in three guys working in a garage; their idea could be the one,” said Michael Young, director of Caterpillar Ventures. Young is referring to the selection process he and about a dozen other Caterpillar leaders collaborated on as they whittled through a binder full of startup companies that are hoping for a chance to solve customer problems alongside Illinois-based, Fortune 500 companies like Caterpillar.
Startup companies make their pitch to Caterpillar
Posted November 4, 2015 | Source: www.pjstar.com
Startup companies were out there pitching in Mossville on Wednesday with the hope they might come up with a win — or at least be in the ballpark — with Caterpillar Inc. It was the latest round for the state’s Corporate Startup Challenge, a program organized by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition to bring startups together with major corporate players such as State Farm, Archer Daniels Midland and John Deere.
Caterpillar Evaluates Some Tech Startups
Posted November 4, 2015 | Source: www.peoriapublicradio.org
Caterpillar hosted a Startup Challenge Wednesday. 10 different startups pitched their innovations to a panel of experts and an audience of about 100 people. The startups ranged in 3-D printing and analytics to self-healing metal materials.
STEM Degrees on the Upswing in Illinois: Innovation Index Talent Report
Posted October 29, 2015 | Source: www.microsoft-chicago.com
One of the key highlights of representing Microsoft in the community is my role as member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC). Microsoft has worked closely with the ISTC and its Illinois Science and Technology Institute (ISTI) on STEM initiatives, such as the wonderful STEM Challenge last year with Lake View High School, one of the five Early College STEM Schools at CPS. Recently, the ISTC released their 2015 Innovation Index on STEM Talent, which discusses where Illinois stands in the STEM field compared to other parts of the nation.
Over A Quarter Of Illinois College Students Are Studying STEM, New Research Finds
Posted October 12, 2015 | Source: www.chicagoinno.com
Students in Illinois are flocking to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at higher rates than the national average, a new study from the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) found.
Illinois tops national average in STEM grads
Posted October 12, 2015 | Source: www.chicagobusiness.com
Illinois universities have ratcheted up their output of science, technology, engineering and math graduates and outpace the nation as a whole.
New analysis sheds light on STEM talent supply, demand in Illinois
Posted October 12, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
To better understand trends in science, technology, engineering and math in Illinois, the 2015 edition of the Innovation Index talent issue offers a comprehensive analysis of the state’s high-tech economy through the lens of supply (STEM degrees granted in the state) and demand (employment in STEM fields). The analysis focuses on the concentration of STEM studies and occupations, growth over time, and the state’s performance compared with the national average. The issue also examines the contribution of immigrant students to Illinois’ STEM talent pool, the fastest-growing high-tech industries and occupations in Illinois, and the emergence of “hybrid jobs” that require both STEM and non-STEM skill sets.
Cat, Grainger sign up for speed dating with startups
Posted August 11, 2015 | Source: www.chicagobusiness.com
The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition is gearing up for a fourth effort to pair up the state’s big companies with some of its most promising startups.
Grainger, Caterpillar, Allstate highlight Corporate Startup Challenge
Posted July 28, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
Grainger and Caterpillar are joining Allstate for the fourth class in the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition’s Corporate Startup Challenge, it was announced Tuesday.
Statement from the ISTC on the passing of board member Jerry Roper
Posted June 29, 2015
On behalf of the ISTC Board of Directors and ISTC staff, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Jerry Roper, one of Chicago’s finest and most passionate civic leaders. Jerry loved Chicago and epitomized its spirit of collaboration, tenacity and resilience. He also played an integral role in the growth of the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, serving as a board member and helping to incubate the organization previously in the offices of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. We send our thoughts to his family, and he will be greatly missed.
Interview with Mark Harris of the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition
Posted May 27, 2015 | Source: www.sstiawards.com
“When you work with a corporation, you need to have a high level champion within the company.” – Mark Harris. Mark shares his insight on how to bring the startup community and Fortune 500 companies together. Initiated by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC), Corporate Startup Challenge acts as an intermediary and matchmaker between those two communities.
Lake View High School Students Shine at STEM Learning Exchange Challenge
Posted May 27, 2015 | Source: www.microsoft-chicago.com
What happens when 600 innovative students come together in one room? Energy! Creativity! Can-do attitude! It’s great to see that across Illinois, there are hundreds of committed, driven students ready and able to solve every day STEM challenges.
High schoolers take on missiles, solar energy in STEM Challenge
Posted May 22, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
Hundreds of high school students offered solutions to local and international problems at the 2015 STEM Challenge at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago on May 20.
Students team up to tackle problems using science, technology, engineering and math
Posted May 20, 2015 | Source: www.wgntv.com
About 600 students have come together in Chicago to work alongside each other and help tackle, and possibly solve, some of the problems facing us and the rest of the world.
Chicago Public Library gives an ear to 6 companies on ISTC Demo Day
Posted April 23, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, which runs the Corporate-Startup Challenge, this year made the Chicago Public Library part of the Challenge and selected companies to pitch ideas to CPL representatives, including commissioner Brian Bannon. The idea was to match startups’ innovation and products with CPL’s digital initiatives and communal outreach.
Edtech Startups Talk Library Innovation At Chicago Public Library Demo Day
Posted April 22, 2015 | Source: www.chicagoinno.com
“The library is a really important place to connect people to education, to jobs, to business, and many other things,” said Brian Bannon, CPL commissioner. “How do we leverage that infrastructure to help people leverage their lives and their community?”
The Illinois Corporate-Startup Challenge: Accelerating Corporate Innovation
Posted April 15, 2015 | Source: www.microsoft-chicago.com
We often hear about Illinois’ depth and diversity of global corporations, as well as our growing entrepreneurial community over the last few years – but some might not know about the powerful results that can occur when we mix them together. At the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC) – a member-driven nonprofit focused on growing the state’s innovation economy – we are leading an effort to better bridge the state’s most promising startups and university spinouts with major corporations that are looking to innovate with partners outside their walls.
UL, the Illinois Corporate-Startup Challenge and the power of vetting
Posted April 7, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
The typical Demo Day on the Chicago startup circuit might offer presenters some cash or connections with potential investors. But presenters at the Illinois Corporate-Startup Challenge got something more valuable and elusive — an audience with a large potential customer.
UL, the Illinois Corporate-Startup Challenge and the power of vetting
Posted April 7, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
The typical Demo Day on the Chicago startup circuit might offer presenters some cash or connections with potential investors. But presenters at the Illinois Corporate-Startup Challenge got something more valuable and elusive — an audience with a large potential customer.
WBC, ISTC and UI Labs Release Manufacturing Innovation Hub Request for Information (RFI)
Posted March 5, 2015 | Source: www.worldbusinesschicago.com
The purpose of this RFI is to seek input from potential Hub partners and the broader manufacturing community on the two-phase, $10M to $20M development of the Hub on Goose Island. Phase 1 of the project includes the build-out of a 25,000 to 50,000 square feet facility focused on physical product innovation and manufacturing within the next 12 months. Phase 2 is anticipated to include plans for a larger neighboring facility focused on technology demonstration, research and development and workforce training in the following 2 to 3 years.
Illinois Science & Technology Coalition reflects on productive 2014
Posted February 3, 2015 | Source: www.niutoday.com
The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition – NIU President Doug Baker serves as chair of the board – realized unprecedented growth and impact in 2014 that strengthened Illinois’ position as a hub for innovation.
Innovation U: Illinois Universities Are Driving the State’s Entrepreneurial Growth [Study]
Posted January 27, 2015 | Source: www.chicagoinno.com
Universities are a unique breeding ground for rising entrepreneurs, able to accumulate all the scattered ingredients for building a thriving company through its own academic network—nurturing a winning idea, recruiting talent, finding mentorship, workspace, and securing venture capital. According to the newest Illinois Innovation Index report released Monday, triple the number of startups are being generated from these university think tanks in Illinois as five years ago.
Illinois universities spur innovation through technology transfer and entrepreneurship
Posted January 26, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
As the startup community continues to grow in Chicago and across Illinois, universities are active in encouraging new company formation and shepherding research through the commercialization process through technology transfer offices (TTOs) and entrepreneurship programming.
Illinois Innovation Index points to strong activity from universities
Posted January 26, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
Illinois is seeing a surge of startup and innovation spinning out of its universities, especially in biomedicine and information-technology software development. And licensing of university-developed patents is seeing especially strong growth. That’s the upshot of the latest Illinois Innovation Index, released Monday.
What’s cooking in Illinois research labs?
Posted January 13, 2015 | Source: www.chicagobusiness.com
University of Illinois’ venture fund, with ISTC participation, has funded the first five projects under a new proof of concept program.
How IllinoisVentures is addressing the ‘valley of death’ funding gap
Posted January 13, 2015 | Source: www.chicagotribune.com
Technologies created at universities face a funding gap after government research grants run out and before investors step in, if they step in. Nancy Sullivan is working to bridge that “valley of death” with several proof of concept funding programs that she hopes will improve faculty and student inventors’ chances of bringing their ideas to market. Sullivan, CEO and senior managing director of IllinoisVentures, the University of Illinois’ startup investment arm, explains the programs and how failed investments led to these efforts.
Note: The ISTC was a founding supporter of IllinoisVentures. Read about our participation in this press release.