State support for research is not abstract. In Illinois, it shows up in bricks, mortar, and the momentum of 48,000 new jobs projected in the decade ahead. In 2022, Gov. JB Pritzker announced the release of $37.3 million in capital funding to accelerate development at five hubs of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN). From food systems innovation in Carbondale to entrepreneurship and community development in Chicago, these hubs are designed to solve regional challenges while powering long-term economic growth.

The funding, matched by universities, private partners and philanthropy, is part of a larger public investment strategy led by the University of Illinois System. With more than $1 billion in combined funding now behind the IIN and its flagship hub the Discovery Partners Institute, the initiative is expected to generate an estimated $19 billion in economic impact across the state.

“This investment by the state will continue to pay dividends for the people of Illinois for decades to come,” U of I President Tim Killeen said.

The funding is building research centers, expanding opportunity, developing talent and laying the foundation for inclusive growth across Illinois.

This is what research investment looks like when it’s rooted in people, place, and purpose.