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University of Illinois Honored With “Innovation & Economic Prosperity University” Distinction

Article Source: University of Illinois – OVPR

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) designated the University of Illinois an “Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) University.” This designation, which is valid for five years, recognizes institutions that work to advance the economic well-being of their states, regions, and the nation through a variety of exemplary, innovative, and sustainable efforts.

As part of the IEP application process, the President’s Office led an institutional self-study to map out its broader innovation and economic development activities. Through this comprehensive review, which included interviews with units across our campuses, the University highlighted recent achievements, including improving the region’s manufacturing competitiveness, expanding entrepreneurial capacity, and engaging innovation clusters across the state. The review also honed in on unique growth opportunities.

“This process provided a unique opportunity for us to better understand the breadth and scope of our economic development efforts,” said University of Illinois President Robert A. Easter. “We thank APLU for recognizing the University’s accomplishments, and we look forward to more great things in the years ahead.”