What we do
The research and collaboration committee draws on expertise across the IIN to strengthen connections and relationships, facilitate the pursuit of large-scale grant awards, and oversee the administration of IIN’s Sustaining Illinois seed grant program.
The committee holds an annual IIN research conference focused on topics that are central to the network’s focus areas. The conferences provide numerous opportunities for faculty and student sessions. In both 2020 and 2021, the conference theme was sustainability and the event was held virtually. In 2022, the conference was held as a hybrid event with both in-person and virtual attendance. The first in-person conference was held at ISU in 2024, with NIU and SIUE to follow in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The committee also develops and promotes the scope and parameters of the funding opportunity announcement for the IIN’s Sustaining Illinois seed grant program. Nine rounds of the program provided funding for 52 projects, with participation from all 15 IIN hubs.
The research and collaboration and corporate engagement committees collaborate to host a Tech Talk series where speakers from industry and academia share their expertise on a selected topic. In 2022, the topic was 5G and V2X (vehicle to everything). In 2023, the topic was diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
Finally, the committee has reviewed and supported the IIN’s response to multiple large-scale grant opportunities, both at the state and federal levels. The committee also helped coordinate statewide response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, providing input on the availability of equipment, supplies and facilities from each of the IIN hubs.