Amplify: Fostering Collaboration to Accelerate the Commercialization of Research

Prenosis, Resconstruct, SimBioSys, PhotoniCare, and Inprentus—these are just a few of the 100 plus faculty startups that have leveraged the multitude of entrepreneurial resources offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These ventures exemplify the University’s commitment to innovation and its role in translating groundbreaking ideas from academia into commercial success.

The University of Illinois has cultivated a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurial resources both internal and external to support faculty innovators at different stages in the research commercialization process. This ecosystem is a testament to the university's commitment to not only fostering academic excellence but also contributing to economic development and societal advancement.

With cutting-edge laboratories for interdisciplinary collaboration, comprehensive licensing and patenting assistance, funding opportunities, a top-tier incubator, and an extensive network of mentors and investors, the University equips its faculty with everything needed to transform their research into successful business ventures.

With cutting-edge laboratories for interdisciplinary collaboration, comprehensive licensing and patenting assistance, funding opportunities, a top-tier incubator, and an extensive network of mentors and investors, the University equips its faculty with everything needed to transform their research into successful business ventures.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem at University of Illinois is further enriched by a newly launched initiative called Amplify: Exploring Academic Entrepreneurship & Amplifying Research Commercialization Impact. The inaugural collaborative event was held at the Beckman Institute on February 21. The initiative was led by entrepreneurship ecosystem partners like the Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC), Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), EnterpriseWorks at the University of Illinois Research Park, and the Office of Technology Management (OTM).

The Amplify event served as a dynamic forum where faculty and postdoctoral researchers had the opportunity to exchange experiences, interact with key ecosystem partners, connect with peers, and deepen their understanding of how to successfully navigate the entrepreneurial landscape. The gathering underscored the critical importance of transitioning research from academic settings to commercial spheres, thereby demonstrating the real-world benefits of engaging with the resources provided by the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Navigating the Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Ecosystem at UIUC

Whether you are a prospective entrepreneur or an experienced entrepreneur looking to launch, here’s an overview of key resources available for initiating the journey of research commercialization. (Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of resources.)

 

Interdisciplinary Research Labs

The University of Illinois is home several top-tier laboratories and facilities, crucial for nurturing innovation, providing active support to faculty in the commercialization of research, and facilitating the transition of technology from laboratory settings to the marketplace. A comprehensive list of the university-wide research institutes is available for review here. 

Programs

At the University of Illinois, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Illinois I-Corps program is jointly managed by EnterpriseWorks and the Technology Entrepreneur Center. Illinois I-Corps uses a targeted curriculum to teach faculty to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research and provides entrepreneurship training. Additionally, the University of Illinois introduced the Faculty Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (FELP) in the fall of 2023. FELP is a professional development program for faculty interested in entrepreneurship as a path to maximize the socio-economic impact of their research and scholarship. 

“Participants in programs such as I-Corps and FELP often find themselves at an advantage in securing federal grants, thanks to the structured pathway these programs provide. Beyond funding, these initiatives are instrumental in honing research skills, emphasizing customer discovery and idea validation, and crafting a compelling value proposition.”

Jed Taylor, Assistant Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Executive Director of the Technology Entrepreneur Center, Grainger Engineering

Jed Taylor, the Assistant Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship with Grainger Engineering and Executive Director of TEC highlighted the importance of the Illinois I-Corps program for those embarking on the path of research commercialization. He noted, “Illinois I-Corps is a good starting point for translating research into market-ready innovations. Participants in programs such as I-Corps and FELP often find themselves at an advantage in securing federal grants, thanks to the structured pathway these programs provide. Beyond funding, these initiatives are instrumental in honing research skills, emphasizing customer discovery and idea validation, and crafting a compelling value proposition.”

 

Funding and Grants

DPI is currently accepting proposals for the 2024 Research and Development Science Team Seed Grants. To date, DPI has seeded research groups in specific research clusters with more than $1 million in funding. Additionally, OTM manages the Illinois Proof-of-Concept program that funds projects that facilitate the transformation of UIUC research innovations into products and services that benefit society. Further, NSF offers grants like the Partnerships for Innovation-Research Partnerships (PFI-RP) grant for research commercialization. Details about these and other funding opportunities are available through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation here. 

Incubators

EnterpriseWorks is a technology business incubator that supports the University of Illinois and community entrepreneurs in all stages of their startup journey. 

Patents and Licensing

OTM bridges the gap between academia and industry by facilitating technology transfer. OTM safeguards the intellectual property generated through university research. This includes inventions, patents, copyrights, and trademarks. They work closely with faculty, researchers, and inventors to identify and protect valuable ideas.

Nathan Hoffmann, the Director of the Office of Technology Management (OTM), emphasized the vast potential of UIUC's research endeavors, stating, “With over $700 million in research activities unfolding across our campus, the challenge lies in transforming scientific discoveries into impactful, practical applications through patenting processes. We encourage researchers to engage with OTM at any stage of their work, even during the initial drafting phases. Our team is ready to conduct thorough market and patent analyses to maximize the potential of your research.”

Want to learn more about how to maximize the University’s entrepreneurship ecosystem resources? Please reach out to Marissa Siero, Associate Director of Entrepreneurship Programming at TEC, at siero@illinois.edu.