Why Illinois | Illinois Science & Technology Coalition

As the home of over 200 institutions of higher education, with combined enrollment near 900,000 students, as well as several prestigious national labs, the state of Illinois is uniquely positioned as a Midwestern and national leader in science and technology research and development.

Illinois is a center for biotechnology research and development and ranks highly among U.S. states:
- Illinois’ higher education institutions graduated more than 10,000 students with degrees in bio-science related fields in 2008, making Illinois the 3rd most prolific state in the nation. (Battelle and BIO).
- Illinois is the top producer of biomass, plant material from which other products can be made.
Illinois is home to world-renowned university programs, federal labs and leading businesses or corporations including: Abbott Laboratories, Argonne National Laboratories, Astellas Pharma, Baxter International, Hospira, Takeda and many smaller firms and start-ups. (DCEO)
In Illinois academic research expenditures in the biosciences totaled $1.3 billion in 2008, mainly in medical sciences ($715 million) and biological sciences ($401 million). (Battelle and BIO)

Illinois is one of the top producers of ethanol in the United States with six ethanol fuel plants operating at a total capacity of approximately 800 million gallons per year of ethanol.
Illinois has more than 140 biodiesel stations. To encourage use of biofuels, the Illinois Alternate Fuels Rebate Program offers rebates to anyone using E-85 or biodiesel fuels, and for acquiring vehicles that run on alternate fuels. (Illinois Green Fleets)

In 2008, Illinois ranked 8th in existing wind capacity at 744-megawatts and has 5,500-megawatts
of planned wind power in development. (American Wind Energy Association)
Illinois ranks 7th in the nation of number of community wind projects. For example, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative, the first co-op in Illinois to utilize wind power, serves more than 10,000 consumers throughout 10 western-central Illinois counties. (Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative)

Illinois has robust coal resources ranking third for the most recoverable coal reserves in the country. (U.S. Department of Energy)
Because of our ample coal supply and geological characteristics, Mattoon, Illinois was chosen in 2007 by the FutureGen Alliance as the site for a landmark clean coal energy plant. FutureGen is a public-private partnership among the U.S. Department of Energy and 14 of the world’s largest coal producers to design, build, and operate the world’s first coal-fueled, near-zero emissions power plant.

Investment in nanotechnology in Illinois is not a new phenomenon, which is demonstrated in the diversity and scope of research and development activities in the state. The May 2007 Small Times magazine survey noted:
- Illinois’ strength in nanotechnology is derived from the numerous research centers and laboratories in the state, making Illinois an “unparalleled multi-disciplinary environment for cutting-edge basic and translational research.”
- Illinois is also ranked seventh in microtechnology research, and ninth in microtechnology commercialization.
Illinois is already a leader for high-tech jobs.
- According to TechAmerica and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois ranks No. 7 in high-tech employment. Forty-two of every 1,000 private sector workers in Illinois are employed by high-tech firms.
There are currently several leading research institutes operating in Illinois that focus on areas of nanotechnology ranging from nanomanufacturing and nanobiosystems to molecular and electronic nanostructures.
- Center for Nanoscale Materials – Argonne National Laboratory
- Nano-CEMMS (Center for Nanoscale Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems)
- Institute for Nanotechnology – Northwestern University
- Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology – University of Illinois
- The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology – University of Illinois
- Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory – University of Illinois