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Champaign—the
Illini Entrepreneur Center Network (Illini
ECN) is the recipient of a $350,000 grant
from the state of Illinois. The
announcement, made on today at Enterprise
by Jack Lavin, Director of the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity, praised
Illini ECN, calling it "the number one
e-center in the state for Challenge Grants."
Lavin also praised the collaboration efforts
between the University of Illinois,
entrepreneurs and the state. The new grant
will be used to fund Challenge Grants. So
far, Illini ECN has awarded $245,000 in
Challenge Grants to 45 companies in the east
central Illinois area.
On hand at the
presentation were several past award winners
of Illini ECN Challenge Grants:
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Dr. Tony Lewis of
Iguana Robotics used the award to
improve his patent portfolio and project
management.
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Dr. Pat Jeng of
Mimosa Acoustics used their grant to
to help gain Food and Drug
Administration approval for a device
that screens inner ear hearing in
infants. Mimosa received FDA approval on
February 10, 2006; their product is the
only one of it's kind now currently on
the market. "This opens up a tremendous
opportunity," said Dr. Jeng. "UIUC is a
true gold mine. It's a true incubator
[that] incubates and supports to meet
the workforce challenges."
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Tim Hoerr of
iCyt
Visionary Biosciences described
their grant as "a very catalytic event."
In 2003, when they received their award,
the company employed 12 people; today,
they count 50 employees. "This is a very
proactive community that supports
technology," he said. Hoerr
specifically thanked Illini ECN Director
Dinesh
Ahluwalia
for seeking iCyt out and for
encouraging them to apply for a
Challenge Grant.
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David Kellner of
Caviton
used his company's Challenge Grant for
patent protection for seven Phase 1
projects.
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Dr. Myung Kim of
Kim Laboratories, recipient of a
2003 Challenge Grant, said his company
used the funds to develop a patent
portfolio and to increase his company's
workforce from four to 17. "It's not the
dollar amount that mattered to us, it
was the recognition of our company's
mission," Kim said. He noted the
spin-off effects of the grant that have
enabled the company to raise more
capital. "All that could not have been
possible without the support," he said.
Illini ECN is
administered through the Champaign County
Alliance and the Champaign County Economic
Development Corporation. For more information on the Entrepreneur
Center Network program, log onto
www.ienconnect.com. For more information
on Illini ECN or to receive an application
for Challenge Grants, log onto
www.illini-ecn.org; or contact Jeanne
Gustafson, Champaign County EDC Executive
Director, at
JeanneG@champaigncountyedc.org or phone
(217) 359-6261. |
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above (pictured
left to right): Dr. Tony Lewis, Iguana
Robotics; John Kempen, chair of the Illini
ECN Awards Committee; DCEO Director Jack
Lavin; and Dr. Myung Kim, Kim Laboratories |
