Prairie Research Institute Executive Director Praveen Kumar and scientist Chinmoy Baroi have been selected to join the 2026 Faculty Entrepreneurial Leadership Program cohort.
"This opportunity shows how PRI has embraced thinking boldly, questioning established ways of doing things and imagining new possibilities," Kumar said.
Known as FELP, the professional development program guides faculty innovators through the process of transforming their research into marketable innovations and real-world ventures. It serves as a time-efficient entry point into entrepreneurship and is offered at no cost, supporting participants in advancing their ideas from concept to commercialization.
The highly selective initiative is led by the Gies College of Business and includes participants from all three University of Illinois System campuses.
Baroi said he was excited and honored to be part of the program.
“Much of my work at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, as part of the Prairie Research Institute, focuses on bridging the gap between research, technology maturation, commercialization, and real-world deployment,” said Baroi, who leads technology maturation at ISTC. “I’m looking forward to using this opportunity to strengthen that journey, learn from an exceptional multidisciplinary cohort, and explore new pathways for translating innovation into meaningful economic and societal impact.”
The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.
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