Industry
The University’s Office of Technology Management works with industry to streamline the process of transferring technology from the research lab to the public domain.
These services enhance both University’s ability to fund future research and the public’s opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the innovative work and forward-thinking technological achievements of the University research teams.
Through our marketing efforts, the OTM works to increase industry awareness of University technologies that are available for licensing.
Research Units
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign boasts world-class research centers and institutes that encourage cross-collaboration and play an important role in enhancing the University’s ability to create cutting-edge technologies.The Office of Technology Management works closely with these centers and manages the resulting intellectual property.
The centers and institutes featured here represent a small sampling of the breadth and depth of the University’s research. For a more comprehensive list of the University’s research activities, go to: http://illinois.edu/research/research.html
The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology »
The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is an interdisciplinary research center devoted to leading-edge research in the physical sciences, computation, engineering, biology, behavior, and neuroscience. The institute’s research programs are focused around three main themes:
* Biological Intelligence: Research in the Biological Intelligence research initiative starts with the study of the individual molecules that comprise the brain cells and builds toward an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of brain regions and sense organs. From there, researchers consider the functioning of the brain and how its parts work together to achieve basic abilities, such as perception, attention, learning, and memory.
* Human-Computer Intelligent Interaction: The Human-Computer Intelligent Interaction (HCII) research initiative seeks to enhance human-machine interface design through the optimization of state-of-the-art technology development and engineering of multimodal interface design concepts.
*Molecular and Electronic Nanostructures: The general goal of the Molecular & Electronic Nanostructures (M&ENS) research initiative is to develop a fundamental understanding of chemical and physical processes involving structures on the nanometer scale. Biomolecules, mesoscopic semiconductor-based systems, and macromolecular assemblies are studied with emphasis on future electronic or optoelectronic applications.
Biotechnology Center »
The Biotechnology Center through core laboratories in genomics and proteomics provides a state of the art research infrastructure to investigators both on and off campus. Our research facilities consist of the Proteomics Center and the W. M. Keck Center for Comparative and Functional Genomics. The Proteomics Center is composed of four units involved in protein and cell characterization: Flow Cytometry Facility, Immunological Resource Center, Carver Metabolomics Center, and Protein Sciences Facility. The W.M. Keck Center is subdivided into three units by their research focus: High-Throughput Sequencing and Genotyping, Functional Genomics, and Bioinformatics. We provide genomic and proteomic research services to over 221 principal investigators on campus representing 6 colleges and 38 departments as well as numerous off-campus projects. In addition, our Career Services assists graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in career placement.
Center for Advanced Study »
The mission of the Center for Advanced Study (CAS) is to recognize the highest level of scholarly excellence and achievements of members of the faculty; to promote discourse across disciplines; and to provide a forum for interaction with national and international academics, creative artists and public figures. The Center serves the university by providing special recognition for achievement, release time appointments for faculty and opportunities for participation in an interdisciplinary scholarly community.
Coordinated Science Laboratory »
The Coordinated Science Laboratory works at the nexus of computing, control, and communications. CSL has developed and deployed new technologies that have achieved international scientific renown and transformed society with practical applications. With a rich history of 55+ years of interdisciplinary innovation, CSL is recognized as a global leader in information technology research and development.
Led by a faculty of world-renowned experts and supported by graduate and post-doctoral students recruited from across America and around the world, CSL explores critical issues in telecommunications, network security, disaster response, financial systems, home entertainment, aerospace systems, and health care, among others.
CSL has a staff of more than 500, including more than 100 professors from 13 departments. Its interdisciplinary teams work at every level of research, from algorithms, circuits, systems, and networks to complex, new-generation architectures, design tools, and software. Modern technology requires an IT structure that is fast, adaptive, responsive, highly reliable, and secure. CSL’s vision is to make this infrastructure a reality.
Institute for Genomic Biology »
The Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was established in 2003 to advance life science research and stimulate bio-economic development in the state of Illinois. The $75 million, 186,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility will house up to 400 researchers in three broad program areas: Systems Biology, Cellular and Metabolic Engineering and Genome Technology.
Research focuses on significant problems facing humanity, such as stabilizing the biosphere, managing new and emerging pests and pathogens, and maintaining an abundant and healthy food supply. The near-term strategic objective of the IGB is to identify and promote research that capitalizes on recent advances in genome science and technology.
Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory »
The Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory (FSMRL) fosters interdisciplinary research at the forefront of materials science. The FSMRL brings together world-class faculty and students in condensed matter physics, materials chemistry, and materials science in a highly collaborative research environment.
The FSMRL is home to several large-scale, multi-investigator research programs:
Department of Energy/Office of Basic Energy Sciences (DOE/BES), Materials Sciences and Engineering Division Research Clusters
* Quantum Materials at the Nanoscale
* Programming Function via Soft Materials
* Strongly Driven Transformations in Materials
* Nano-Oxide Photocatalysts for Solar Energy Conversion
National Science Foundation (NSF) Materials Computation Center
National Science Foundation Center for Directed Assembly of Nanostructures
The Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory »
The Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MNTL) at the College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated universitybased facilities for semiconductor, nanotechnology, and biotechnology research. The laboratory is a user facility that is available for use by university and industry from across the nation. It contains over 8,000 square feet of class 100 and class 1000 clean room laboratory and state-of-the-art ultra-high-speed optical and electrical device and circuit measurements.
The bionanosystems area focuses on utilizing the various technologies developed in materials, nanofabrication, devices, MEMS and NEMS to study and solve biological issues. Biomolecular flow patterns in nanoscale channels, integration of lasers onto biochips for real-time fluorescence study of bioreactions, development of photonic crystal bio-sensors for combinatorial bio-chemical analysis, and implantation of active devices in cells to study cellular biochemistry are examples of research activities being carried out.
Recently, an $18 million expansion of the MNTL was completed, which included construction of a dedicated Bio/Nanotechnology Laboratory, and additional office and laboratory space for researchers.
National Center for Supercomputing Applications »
The National Center for Supercomputing Applications was one of the five original centers in the National Science Foundation’s Supercomputer Centers Program. The program was created in 1986 to provide high performance computing resources to the national academic research community. NCSA has an international reputation in high-performance computing and networking and in developing innovative software applications. NCSA greatly broadened the user base of remote supercomputing and the Internet with NCSA Telnet in 1987. In 1992, the center introduced NCSA Mosaic, the first readily-available graphical Web browser.
Today the Center is recognized internationally for deploying reobust high-performance computing resources and working with research communities to develop new computing and software technologies. The center focuses on five thrust areas that are the pillars of an exciting future:
* Cyberenvironments will give research communities the means to fully exploit the extraordinary resources available on the Internet (computing systems, data sources and stores, and tools).
NCSA’s cyber-resources ensure that computing, data, and networking resources are available to solve the most demanding science and engineering problems and that the solutions are obtained in a timely manner.
* Innovative systems research is exploring the path to petascale (and beyond) science and engineering.
* Advanced visualization provides critical insights into complex systems and brings the thrill of scientific discovery to the public.
NCSA aims to bring cybereducation into the undergraduate and graduate classroom to prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers to effectively use the growing national cyberinfrastructure.
Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science »
The Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science is home to the Department of Computer Science, an international leader in computing research for almost five decades. Siebel Center was designed as one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the nation to serve as a living laboratory for computer science research. Advanced wireless and wired communication networks, sensors, actuators, video capture and display equipment, video walls and information panels and storage and computing capabilities within the building allow researchers to examine communication and computation issues related to pervasive computing, multimedia infrastructure, building intelligence, security and privacy, and human computer interaction.
Broadly organized around nine research areas, 55 faculty members conduct research with about 480 graduate students, and about 30 research staff members. Research themes in the department include: Algorithms and Theory, Artificial Intelligence, Architecture, Parallel Computing and Systems, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Database and Information Systems, Graphics, Visualizations, and HCI, Systems and Networking, and Scientific Computing.
State Scientific Surveys Associated with the OVCR
Natural History Survey
Since 1858, the Illinois Natural History Survey has been the guardian and recorder of the biological resources of Illinois—the state’s biological memory. With a staff of over 200 scientists and technicians, it is recognized as the premier natural history survey in the nation. Over the years, its mission has remained fairly constant: to investigate the diversity, life histories, and ecology of the plants and animals of the state; to publish research results so that those resources can be managed wisely; and to provide information to the public in order to foster an understanding and appreciation of our natural heritage. While housed on the campus of the University of Illinois, the Illinois Natural
History Survey is a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Illinois State Geological Survey
Created in 1905, the Illinois State Geological Survey provides the information and analyses needed to solve environmental and resource problems for the citizens of Illinois. Their scientific research is key to understanding and addressing issues such as groundwater supply and protection, waste disposal, lakeshore erosion, and earthquake risk. Research and service programs encompass geologic mapping, water and mineral resources, environmental and engineering geology, geochemistry, and education. While housed on the campus of the University of Illinois, the
Illinois Natural History Survey is a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Illinois State Water Survey
The Illinois State Water Survey is the primary agency in Illinois concerned with water and atmospheric resources. The Water Survey includes three technical sections (watershed science, ground water, and atmospheric environment), one national program, and an analytical chemistry and service unit, together with central administration and management functions. Each of the three technical sections share some common features: information services; a focus on environmental impacts and responses; data collection for the Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring program; and a renewed emphasis on modeling studies, research, and analysis. A significant portion of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) involves chemical analysis and data dissemination. The primary focus of the Analytical
Chemistry & Technology Unit is public service.
Waste Management and Research Center
The Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC) helps businesses and citizens reduce and manage solid and hazardous wastes released to air, water or land through programs in pollution prevention, analytical and information services, and research. WMRC headquarters is located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a division of the Office of Scientific Research and Analysis in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
