Global electronics manufacturer, Foxconn, and the University of Illinois have partnered on a $100 million smart technology research center headquartered on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Most press conferences don’t provide breakfast pastries. But in mid-May, when the University of Illinois announced that every public four-year college in the state had signed on to its Innovation Network, the event was staged with some extra sizzle.
University of Illinois officials announced two big projects for the Urbana campus Wednesday: a new data science center and expansion of the Research Park. Both projects will get state funding as part of the Illinois Innovation Network, the U of I’s new statewide research enterprise.
University of Illinois System President Timothy Killeen said he is excited the U of I system will lead the Discovery Partners Institute. The DPI is a new research institute where students will work alongside researchers and businesses. Killeen said this will spur economic growth in the state.
The President of the University of Illinois vows to be very aggressive in recruiting and retaining faculty.
