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Chicago, IL— Out of more than 350 nominees, the Illinois Innovation Network’s Make it in Illinois initiative has been selected as one of the Top 100 Finalists still in the running for the 25th annual Chicago Innovation Awards. The awards celebrate the most innovative new products and services in the Chicago region across all organization sizes, sectors and industries. Over 700 business and civic leaders will come together to honor the winners when they are announced on November 17, 2026, at the UIC Forum.
Make it in Illinois, an initiative of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), is a statewide initiative connecting Illinois residents, educators, employers and communities to the opportunities shaping the future of advanced manufacturing and technology. In short, Make it in Illinois helps people train for, and discover, careers in Illinois Manufacturing.
“This recognition is about more than an award,” said Steve Meneses, program director, advanced manufacturing workforce initiative. “It’s about the students discovering new career possibilities, the educators creating tomorrow’s talent, the employers investing in Illinois, and the communities building pathways into the future. From advanced manufacturing and AI to EVs, clean energy, data centers and quantum technology, innovation is happening across Illinois—and Make It in Illinois is helping connect people to the opportunities behind it.”
Rather than simply telling people about the future of work, Make It in Illinois is helping people experience it—through hands-on learning, industry partnerships, career events, training programs and connections to emerging fields including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, clean energy, data centers, quantum technology and other technology-driven industries.
As one of the Top 100 Finalists, Make it in Illinois will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend The Practical Innovator, a day-long executive education course on October 13th led by top faculty who teach innovation at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Each of the Top 100 Finalists is also in the running for the annual “People’s Choice Award,” selected through online balloting. VOTE HERE (Illinois Innovation Network/Make it in Illinois is on page 4).
“Chicago continues to rise as a global hub of innovation that cuts across industries, large corporations and startups, for-profits and non-profits,” said Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “The impact that this year’s nominees generated is profound – their new products and services generated $3 billion in revenues and raised nearly $1 billion in investment capital.”
Out of the Top 100 Finalists, the judges will select 20 winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards. In addition to being celebrated at the Chicago Innovation Awards on November 17, 2026, the winners will be invited to ring the Nasdaq Bell in New York City and receive widespread media recognition.