The University of Illinois, in partnership with industry and state and local government, plans to submit a Letter of Intent to host an ACE tour in Illinois in 2023/2024 initially focusing on innovation, technology transformation, agri-business, and supply chain logistics.[expand title=”Read more…”] The following organizations would join the effort: the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the City of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratories, mHUB Chicago, City Colleges of Chicago, Illinois Community Colleges, and multiple other partners. Local government and business partners are under development. The University of Illinois System includes a land grant university, a Hispanic Serving Institution (research 1) university, and a comprehensive university that is working in partnership with the State of Illinois’ other nine public universities and 48 community colleges to transform academic engagement in communities of residence (location) and service (impact). Through the Illinois Innovation Network, we seek to establish local and global partnerships to support economic development initiatives through technical expertise, multi-disciplinary translational research, and partnership engagement. The goal is to move beyond student education to supporting industry, government, and non-government organizations in their development, including their planning for and impact upon communities, with a particular focus on minority and disinvested communities. UI Systems is opening its first Latin American satellite university in Mexico City in September 2022 and is expanding elsewhere internationally to better serve its students across borders. Leading scientific and technological innovation through its many campuses and department, the University of Illinois System educates over 94,000 students and has a presence in Illinois’ 102 counties, collaborating with communities of varied population sizes (under 10,000, under 25,000, under 50,000, under 200,000, and mega regions like Chicago and greater Chicagoland). The Discovery Partners Institute, which fields science-focused industry teams and novel tech training, offers technology-based educational solutions for urban and remote geographies. Its recent innovative work in developing a COVID saliva test has facilitated Illinois’ remaining open during the pandemic while its newest computer additions, in partnership with Argonne National Labs and the University of Chicago, will facilitate exponential AI and simulated research. The University of Illinois Chicago is a founding member of the newly formed Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Institutions, a group of 20 universities partnering to enhance cross-regional research, increase doctoral student pathways, and expand STEAM engagement within the nation’s fastest-growing minority population. The University of Illinois System, through the Illinois Innovation Network, has discussed working with the Asociacion de Universidades Grupo Montevideo to develop a formal partnership. The System led the formation of the Great Lakes Higher Education Consortium which includes the University of Toronto, University of Wisconsin System, University of Michigan, Queen’s University, and McGill University as part of a bi-national innovation system. Identifying partners to enhance binational and multi-national sustainability and economic viability initiatives are a hallmark of the University’s mission. Participating and actively supporting ACE and its partners is an extension of that mission.

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