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IntelliWheels Receives $1.5 Million Grant to Develop Multispeed Geared Wheels for Manual Wheelchairs

Article Source: University of Illinois Research Park

A $1.5-million grant will enable IntelliWheels, Inc. to advance development of ultra-lightweight, multi-geared wheels for manual wheelchairs. This new innovation will further wheelchair functionality, allowing manual wheelchair users to be more physically active and increase their independence, health and well-being.

IntelliWheels received the Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.

“By using simple gearing we can create a more dynamic method of mobility, providing wheelchair users greater ability to interact in their environment,” said Marissa Siero, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

The IntelliWheels i series will give wheelchair users the option to shift into high and low gears, providing the ability to independently maneuver hills, uneven surfaces and longer distances.

IntelliWheels, Inc. will be working in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and TiLite, a leading manufacturer of ultralight wheelchairs to conduct research on geared technology for wheelchair users as well as product development.

“Funding like this from the NIH is an incredible tool to help designers, engineers, and inventors create the very best technology and design that every wheelchair user deserves.  It has an additional benefit that it supports US manufacturing and small businesses,” said Scott Daigle, M.S., PI and President, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

About IntelliWheels 

IntelliWheels, Inc. is a product development company dedicated to innovating wheelchair technology and improving mobility options for wheelchair users. Utilizing wheelchair users’ feedback in the design process and product development phases enables IntelliWheels to create products for wheelchair users with optimal features and greater functionality. IntelliWheels believes in creating innovative products that can be used to increase a person’s ability to lead a more active and independent life.  IntelliWheels originated as a student startup from the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign.

Press:

Grant money could help ‘transform’ wheelchairs, The News-Gazette

 

A $1.5-million grant will enable IntelliWheels, Inc. to advance development of ultra-lightweight, multi-geared wheels for manual wheelchairs. This new innovation will further wheelchair functionality, allowing manual wheelchair users to be more physically active and increase their independence, health and well-being.

IntelliWheels received the Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.

“By using simple gearing we can create a more dynamic method of mobility, providing wheelchair users greater ability to interact in their environment,” said Marissa Siero, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

The IntelliWheels i series will give wheelchair users the option to shift into high and low gears, providing the ability to independently maneuver hills, uneven surfaces and longer distances.

IntelliWheels, Inc. will be working in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, and TiLite, a leading manufacturer of ultralight wheelchairs to conduct research on geared technology for wheelchair users as well as product development.

“Funding like this from the NIH is an incredible tool to help designers, engineers, and inventors create the very best technology and design that every wheelchair user deserves.  It has an additional benefit that it supports US manufacturing and small businesses,” said Scott Daigle, M.S., PI and President, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

– See more at: http://researchpark.illinois.edu/news/intelliwheels-receives-15-million-grant-develop-multispeed-geared-wheels-manual-wheelchairs#sthash.J0E2DlyK.dpuf

A $1.5-million grant will enable IntelliWheels, Inc. to advance development of ultra-lightweight, multi-geared wheels for manual wheelchairs. This new innovation will further wheelchair functionality, allowing manual wheelchair users to be more physically active and increase their independence, health and well-being.

IntelliWheels received the Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.

“By using simple gearing we can create a more dynamic method of mobility, providing wheelchair users greater ability to interact in their environment,” said Marissa Siero, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

The IntelliWheels i series will give wheelchair users the option to shift into high and low gears, providing the ability to independently maneuver hills, uneven surfaces and longer distances.

IntelliWheels, Inc. will be working in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, and TiLite, a leading manufacturer of ultralight wheelchairs to conduct research on geared technology for wheelchair users as well as product development.

“Funding like this from the NIH is an incredible tool to help designers, engineers, and inventors create the very best technology and design that every wheelchair user deserves.  It has an additional benefit that it supports US manufacturing and small businesses,” said Scott Daigle, M.S., PI and President, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

– See more at: http://researchpark.illinois.edu/news/intelliwheels-receives-15-million-grant-develop-multispeed-geared-wheels-manual-wheelchairs#sthash.J0E2DlyK.dpuf

A $1.5-million grant will enable IntelliWheels, Inc. to advance development of ultra-lightweight, multi-geared wheels for manual wheelchairs. This new innovation will further wheelchair functionality, allowing manual wheelchair users to be more physically active and increase their independence, health and well-being.

IntelliWheels received the Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.

“By using simple gearing we can create a more dynamic method of mobility, providing wheelchair users greater ability to interact in their environment,” said Marissa Siero, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

The IntelliWheels i series will give wheelchair users the option to shift into high and low gears, providing the ability to independently maneuver hills, uneven surfaces and longer distances.

IntelliWheels, Inc. will be working in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, and TiLite, a leading manufacturer of ultralight wheelchairs to conduct research on geared technology for wheelchair users as well as product development.

“Funding like this from the NIH is an incredible tool to help designers, engineers, and inventors create the very best technology and design that every wheelchair user deserves.  It has an additional benefit that it supports US manufacturing and small businesses,” said Scott Daigle, M.S., PI and President, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

– See more at: http://researchpark.illinois.edu/news/intelliwheels-receives-15-million-grant-develop-multispeed-geared-wheels-manual-wheelchairs#sthash.J0E2DlyK.dpuf

A $1.5-million grant will enable IntelliWheels, Inc. to advance development of ultra-lightweight, multi-geared wheels for manual wheelchairs. This new innovation will further wheelchair functionality, allowing manual wheelchair users to be more physically active and increase their independence, health and well-being.

IntelliWheels received the Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.

“By using simple gearing we can create a more dynamic method of mobility, providing wheelchair users greater ability to interact in their environment,” said Marissa Siero, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

The IntelliWheels i series will give wheelchair users the option to shift into high and low gears, providing the ability to independently maneuver hills, uneven surfaces and longer distances.

IntelliWheels, Inc. will be working in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, and TiLite, a leading manufacturer of ultralight wheelchairs to conduct research on geared technology for wheelchair users as well as product development.

“Funding like this from the NIH is an incredible tool to help designers, engineers, and inventors create the very best technology and design that every wheelchair user deserves.  It has an additional benefit that it supports US manufacturing and small businesses,” said Scott Daigle, M.S., PI and President, Co-Founder of IntelliWheels, Inc.

– See more at: http://researchpark.illinois.edu/news/intelliwheels-receives-15-million-grant-develop-multispeed-geared-wheels-manual-wheelchairs#sthash.J0E2DlyK.dpuf

Yahoo Breaks Ground for New Facility in Champaign

Article Source: University of Illinois Research Park

Champaign, IL – Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) broke ground on a new state-of-the-art facility that will serve as an important expansion of its Champaign, IL technology hub. Leaders from Yahoo, State of Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and City of Champaign announced plans for the new building and expanded workforce.

Champaign is the home of several Yahoo engineering teams working on critical technologies for the company. Yahoo currently occupies 24,000 sq.ft. of office space and is the largest full-time employer in the University of Illinois Research Park. The new 40,000 sq. ft. building will be solely constructed for Yahoo. Plans include recruitment of engineers over the next 12-24 months.

Yahoo’s SVP of Advertising Technology, Scott Burke, attended the groundbreaking and said, “I’m thrilled to announce our expansion in Champaign. Yahoo has benefited from the world-class engineering talent at Research Park that contributes to our advertising and data systems. We look forward to growing our team and continuing to be a valued member of the local community.”

Champaign-Urbana is the home of the University of Illinois and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). The top-ranked engineering college is a hallmark of Illinois. Chancellor Phyllis Wise said, “Yahoo is an important presence in our Research Park and in our local community. Our students and our faculty have seen great new opportunities through our relationship with Yahoo, and this expansion will open even more of them for all of us.”

“The presence of Yahoo at the U of I is an incredible resource for the technology industry in Illinois,” Governor Pat Quinn said. “Illinois is a technology leader and we are actively working to grow our economy, create jobs and keep our state a center for innovation worldwide. Places like Research Park at the University of Illinois are essential in making Illinois even more competitive.”

“On behalf of the City of Champaign, we are pleased that performance-based employment incentives were able to contribute the positive decision by Yahoo to expand in our community. Yahoo’s growth is a strong example of the thriving high-technology sector in Champaign,” said Mayor Don Gerard.

About Yahoo

Yahoo is focused on making the world’s daily habits inspiring and entertaining. By creating highly personalized experiences, we keep people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the world. In turn, we create value for advertisers by connecting them with the audiences that build their businesses. Yahoo is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and has offices located throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the Company’s blog (yahoo.tumblr.com).

About the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Since its founding in 1867, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has earned a reputation as a world-class leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. Located on campus, the Research Park at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a technology hub for startup companies and corporate research and development operations. Within the Research Park there are more than 90 companies employing students and full-time technology professionals. For more visit www.illinois.edu and www.researchpark.illinois.edu.

Contact at Yahoo: Cathy Singer, Senior Director, cats@yahoo-inc.com
Contact at the University of Illinois: Laura Frerichs, Research Park Director, (217) 333-8323

More press coverage:

Yahoo to add 80 jobs at Research Park site, The News-Gazette

Yahoo expansion to come to University’s Research Park, The Daily Illini

Champaign County EDC Reveals New Strategic Plan & Highlights Products Made in Champaign County at Annual Meeting

More than 150 people gathered at the Hawthorn Suites in Champaign, IL for the 2013 Champaign County EDC Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2013. The meeting highlighted the organization’s FY13 activities, showcased products and innovation Made in Champaign County (#MadeInCC), and revealed the organization’s new Strategic Plan.

Products were on display from the following Champaign County companies: Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc. (AFSI), Bump Nonprofit Design Studio, Columbia Street Roastery, Conair Corporation, Dart Container Corporation, Data Comm for Business, Inc., Eagle Wings Industries, Easton-Bell Sports, Flex-N-Gate, Herff Jones, IntelliWheels, Litania Sports Group, Oso Technologies, Ragle Dental Laboratory, Silgan White Cap Americas, Taylor Studios, Triptych Brewing, and Volition. Some of the products on display included bumpers from Flex-N-Gate, oil filers from AFSI, a bicycle helmet from Easton-Bell Sports, video games from Volition, and a dinosaur made by Taylor Studios.

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation acts through public-private partnerships to continually grow the local economy by supporting local business and driving expansion and attraction.

The Champaign County EDC has set the following two-year goals (as revealed in their new Strategic Plan): provide support to create 3,000 new jobs, attract $225 million in new private investment, assist companies to grow payroll by $132 million (this will ultimately increase per capita pay to $26,000), and increase private sector influence in EDC by doubling the number of private investors.

To read the full plan, download a copy below.

EDC 2013-2015 Strategic Plan

To view photos from the event, please visit the Champaign County EDC’s Facebook album.

Buzz about the event:

Group’s aim: Per capita pay hike for county, The News-Gazette

Economic Development Corporation showcases locally-made products, The Daily Illini

Tweets (#MadeInCC)

Contact:

Carly McCrory, Communications Director
Champaign County EDC
217-359-6261
carly@champaigncountyedc.org

 

Economic Development Group Seeks to Create New Jobs in County

Article Source: The Daily Illini

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation recently set its two-year goals, which include providing support to create 3,000 new jobs in Champaign County.

Over the next two years, the corporation aims to attract $225 million in new private investment to Champaign County, assist companies to grow payroll by $132 million and increase private sector influence in the corporation by doubling the number of its private investors.

“Ultimately, we want to increase the level of income in our communities, which will be a big economic boost to the local economy,” said Erik Kotewa, deputy director of the corporation. “In order to do that, we have to attract new jobs by either expanding current businesses that are here or attracting new businesses.”

Financial contributors give money to the Economic Development Corporation to help fund business retention programs aimed to ensure that Champaign County-based companies are satisfied, ease expansions and provide other services that help keep corporations in the area.

In the past 10 years, Champaign County has been in the bottom half of the Midwestern community peer group for job growth, according to the EDC’s two-year strategy. Creating 3,000 jobs would put Champaign County in the top third.

Lori Gold Patterson, CEO of Pixo, a technology firm in Urbana, doubled the size of her company in less than a year. She said she supports the EDC’s strategy, and her company will help the corporation reach its goals.

“The more jobs that are created locally, the stronger the economy is,” Gold Patterson said. “The more likelihood there is a growing talent pool here we can pull from.”

The EDC also aims to attract $225 million in new private investment to the county, such as expanding local companies or new companies investing in new facilities, which would create jobs.

In assisting companies with growing their payroll, the corporation seeks to ultimately increase per capita pay to $26,000 from $23,700, according to the two-year strategy.

“They’re aggressive (goals), but they’re realistic and provide something for the organization and the region to shoot for in terms of growing the economy,” said Bruce Knight, Champaign’s planning and development director.

Kotewa said in order to accomplish its two-year goals, the corporation strives to double the number of private investors who contribute to the EDC.

“These goals are bigger than what we can accomplish with our current level of resources and with the current level of involvement in our organization from local stakeholders,” Kotewa said.

Gold Patterson said she supports this initiative and thinks the corporation needs to focus more on the private sector business model. She said other companies should support the organization once they see the value of it.

The corporation provides industry roundtables for Champaign County-based corporations to discuss collaborative opportunities. On Nov. 21, the EDC will host its annual meeting highlighting products made in Champaign County.

Gold Patterson said Pixo has seen solid outcomes from these services and thinks they enable businesses to better meet the needs of the workforce. She said the corporation’s annual meeting has tremendously helped her staff.

“Pixo is a technology firm, and the staff at our company historically did not have the opportunity to be inspired by other innovations and technology in the county,” Gold Patterson said. “It really helps when you’re in a creative field or a technology field to feel the energy and the growth and the idea creation around you.”

Kotewa said achieving the two-year goals may be a challenge, but he is confident they are realistic numbers based on information regarding what other economic organizations across the country are doing.

“The thing to keep in mind is that this reflects a county-wide effort,” Knight said, “so everybody is pulled up by attempting to achieve these goals.”

Local plant to expand for storage

Article Source: The News-Gazette

CHAMPAIGN — A $2.4 million addition to the Silgan White Cap facility in Champaign will enable the container-lid manufacturer to store more materials in-house, the plant manager said.

Sam Finch said the plant in Interstate Research Park will add 71,620 square feet to the west side of its building this year, bringing the total size to 254,616 square feet.

“We hope to be done by the end of August,” depending on the weather, he said Thursday. A building permit was recently issued, and work on the addition is expected to begin in April.

The plant at 3209 Farber Drive, C, currently outsources storage to warehouses, and bringing the storage in-house should result in savings, Finch said.

Silgan White Cap employs 140 to 145 people in Champaign, and the new addition isn’t expected to result in many new jobs, he said. It’s possible the company will add one or two materials handlers.

The Champaign facility produces an average of 300 million lids a month, Finch said.

That includes plastic closures for sports drink bottles, as well as vacuum-seal lids for applesauce, salsa and juice containers, he said.

Silgan White Cap is based in Downers Grove and has plants in Champaign; Richmond, Ind.; Evansville, Ind.; Hazleton, Pa.; and Athens, Ga. The business is a worldwide supplier of metal, composite and plastic vacuum closures for food and beverage products.

Silgan White Cap’s parent company, Silgan Holdings, has 82 manufacturing plants in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, including a metal containers plant in Hoopeston.

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