Illinois offers unparalleled opportunity at the epicenter of North America. Illinois provides companies with a world class business environment, a central location with easy access for any operations, a well-educated and experienced workforce of millions, and an opportunity to be an integral part of the second most economically powerful region in the country.

Why Illinois?

#1 State in the Midwest for business creation
#1 Metro for new & expanding companies
#1 State for sustainable development
#5 Highest GDP in the nation
#18 Largest economy in the world

Featured Industry Clusters

Advanced Manufacturing

Illinois’ long history in manufacturing and its advantages in infrastructure, workforce and Research and Development (R&D) allow it to capture growth and quality job opportunities. Advanced manufacturers provide the inputs for fast-growing sectors in vehicles, energy, and life sciences, including machinery manufacturing, fabricated metal manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, robotics, and advanced materials, including nanomaterial manufacturing. In addition, airplane and drone manufacturing have a strong presence in multiple regions in Illinois and are seeing dramatically increased growth due to increases in defense spending around the world.

Life Sciences

Illinois is a hub for life sciences, which include manufacturing related to health care – such as biopharmaceuticals and medical devices. Illinois is the site of extensive innovation in medical devices and procedures, as well as biopharmaceuticals, notably receiving $4.4 billion in life sciences venture capital investment since 2019. With the right type of investment and collaboration, Illinois can continue to be a central hub for innovation and manufacturing in these sectors for generations to come.

Next Generation Agriculture, Agriculture Tech and Food Processing

Illinois has been a global hub for agriculture and food manufacturing for well over a century. At the center of this sector is Illinois’ farm industry, which has attracted and supported the growth of companies that provide supplies to farms (agricultural machinery, tractors, fertilizer, and animal feed), and use products from farms (food manufacturing and biofuels). Over the past few years and in the future, growth opportunities in this sector will arise from changing consumer tastes for food products and materials, advances in agriculture technology, shifting international supply chains, and greater interest in sustainable practices and products.

Quantum Computing, AI, and Microelectronics

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly impacting the way that the world travels, communicates, works, and plays. The implementation of AI has brought a significant increase in R&D and investment in microelectronics and new innovations in computational software and hardware. These innovations include quantum computers, which can perform computations exponentially faster than computers that use silicon microchips. With its strength in microelectronics and AI research at universities and national labs, as well as its status as a global quantum hub, Illinois is well-positioned to capture anticipated future growth in these industries.

Energy Production and Manufacturing

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Illinois is the only state with all seven Class I railroads, has the third-largest interstate highway system with seven major interstates, has water access to Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, and the fourth-busiest airport in the country. In recent years, this advantage has become even more important as investment in this sector grows. A surge in online shopping has required companies to invest in advanced transportation solutions and optimized supply chain management. Shifts in global trends have caused companies to re-consider their supply chains globally. And increased capabilities in automation and sustainability have led to new innovations in transport involving autonomous vehicles, AI, and alternative fuels.

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What is ACE?

ACE is the premier economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurial network of the Americas and is one of the leading high–level events of the Organization of American States (OAS) that is coordinated with the Government of the United States through the State Department and the Department of Commerce. It is a powerful cooperation mechanism that brings together high-level authorities and key decision makers from the Americas and beyond to explore mutually beneficial partnerships to strengthen economic development.

About ACE

Explore ACE and its impact in the Americas

“The ACE program positively contributes to and enables the Chamber to advance its strategic mandate to enhance the Barbados business ecosystem through collaboration and partnerships that will foster the growth and sustainability of Barbadian businesses and enhance opportunities for increased trade, investment, innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“This program has really brought to the forefront the availability, support, and inspiration from the economic development side. I made connections with people outside of my network and I look forward to continuous engagement for further support.”

“The ACE program is truly a jewel in the crown of the programming of the OAS. As the Bahamas looks to deepen its connections with the wider Caribbean basin and Latin America, we will look to build on what we have learned in Panama and leverage the connections made.”

“Through ACE, we have gained access to valuable resources, expertise, and networks that have strengthened our ability to drive digital transformation and foster economic growth in our region. Overall, the program has been instrumental in enhancing our capabilities and expanding our impact in key areas of economic development.”

“The ACE program provided invaluable insights into global best practices, connected me with industry leaders, and fostered an environment where innovative ideas could flourish. Through networking, I gained new perspectives on scaling biotech startups and discovered collaborative opportunities that will accelerate the growth of our organization. The program has been instrumental in sharpening my strategic thinking and equipping me with the tools needed to drive impactful economic development in the biotech sector.”