Illinois Innovation Network awards seed grants
The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) last week awarded $120,000 in seed grants to four research teams in its fourth round of funding. Selected projects include a new approach to improving community resilience against floods, growing the computational thinking and coding workforce in southeast Illinois, investigating the viability of geopolymer concrete as a sustainable construction material, and examining how Illinois can develop a sustainable and inclusive supply chain for the electric vehicle industry. These projects represent six of the state’s 10 economic development regions.
P.S. Sriraj, director of UIC's Urban Transportation Center received a seed grant aimed at a sustainable inclusive supply chain for the electric vehicle industry in Illinois. The project is a collaboration with John Simon, associate professor of management, Governors State University.
The funding is part of IIN’s Sustaining Illinois program, which is designed to increase collaborative research among the state’s public universities, focusing on the economy, health and social well-being, while addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. Sustaining Illinois now includes 24 funded projects, and 12 of the 15 IIN hubs have been a lead recipient of funding.
IIN is a group of 15 university-based hubs across the state working to boost Illinois’ economy through entrepreneurship, research and workforce development. The seed funding was provided by the University of Illinois System and Northern Illinois University (NIU).
“I am continually impressed with the innovative and forward-looking projects that are proposed through the Sustaining Illinois program,” U of I System Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jay Walsh said. “These four funded projects are examples of the strengths of our public universities and the many ways they benefit our state.”
The proposals were required to include researchers from at least two IIN hubs and be completed within one year of receiving funding. Proposals were evaluated on their alignment with IIN principles, how well they address their stated areas of sustainability, the scope of their work and level of collaboration, as well as their potential for further work.
“These funded projects are outstanding examples of the IIN's responsiveness to issues facing Illinois,” said Gerald Blazey, Chair of the IIN Council and Northern Illinois University Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships.