Illinois Innovation Network awards seed grants to six new projects

The Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) awarded nearly $240,000 in seed grants to six research teams in its eighth round of funding this week, with projects including measuring and mapping contaminants in Illinois’ water supply, virtual training for informal caregivers of cancer patients, developing an electricity consumption analysis that enables equitable energy distribution, and developing new electrolyzers that produce hydrogen from water.

The funding is part of IIN’s Sustaining Illinois program, which is designed to increase collaborative research among the state’s public universities. It focuses on the economy, health, and social well-being while addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This funding cycle is the program’s first under its new annual structure, with each project receiving $40,000 instead of the previous $30,000 amount. Sustaining Illinois now includes 46 funded projects, and all 15 IIN hubs have been a recipient of funding.

IIN is a group of 15 university-based hubs across the state working to boost Illinois’ economy through entrepreneurship, research and workforce development. The seed funding was provided by the University of Illinois System and Northern Illinois University (NIU).

“We continue to see a rich, robust base of research throughout Illinois and these six projects represent the leading edge of discovery,” U of I System Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jay Walsh said. “Many of these concepts align with state and federal priorities and represent an opportunity for our researchers to build from their Sustaining Illinois activities to ever larger, more impactful programs.”

A previous seed grant recipient - an innovative layperson training tool to stop opioid overdoses - recently gained the spotlight.

The proposals were required to include researchers from at least two IIN hubs and be completed within one year of receiving funding. Proposals were evaluated on their alignment with IIN principles, how well they address their stated areas of sustainability, the scope of their work and level of collaboration, as well as their potential for further work.

“I am consistently impressed with the depth and breadth of the seed grant proposals we receive for this program,” said Leslie Roundtree, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs at Chicago State University and IIN Council chair. “Our state’s researchers continue to lead the way in discovery around critical societal issues.”

Click here to read about the six newly funded projects and researchers.