Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that Illinois has selected 18 proposed projects to receive $24 million over the next three years in the third round of funding for the Investment for Growth program.

The FY20 funded projects are:

1. Molecule Maker Lab
2. Extension and Public Engagement Connection Center
3. Synthetic Biology for Food and Nutrition Innovation – SynFONI
4. Securing the Future of Transformative Plant Science Research
5. MPH Epidemiology Concentration
6. Investment in Feasibility Study and Architectural Plans – South Campus Online Learning Facility
7. Investment in iMBA Scaling
8. Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Lab Cleanroom Tool Renovation
9. Illinois Automated and Connected Track (I-ACT)
10. The Future of Healthcare Lies at the Intersection of Engineering, Biology and Medicine
11. Center for Re-Imaging Simulation Technology – CReST
12. Assessing Social Impact in the Arts and Humanities at Illinois
13. Growth for School of Earth, Society and Environment
14. Illinois Microbiome Initiative: A Cross-Campus Collaboration to Enhance Multidisciplinary Research and Education in Microbial Sciences
15. Professional MS Degree in Chemical Engineering and Professional Development Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
16. Building and Shaping the Future of Innovation in Brand Communications and Advertising Technology
17. Games @ Illinois: Playful Design for Transformative Education
18. Designing for Social Impact: Enhancing Skills for Students and Community Service Personnel

View full descriptions of this year’s funded projects here. You can also learn more about the Investment for Growth program here.

We expect the next call for proposals, just released, to encourage even more multi-disciplinary and multi-unit collaborations across campus. If you have an idea for an Investment for Growth proposal, we encourage you to talk to your department head and dean.

Thank you to everyone who worked on a proposal. As we look to our future, we need to continue to be proactive and innovative in our funding model. The Investment for Growth program provides a transparent and strategic opportunity to invest in our future.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Jones
Chancellor

Andreas C. Cangellaris
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost