ChampaignArchive for the ‘’ Category

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

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.”

 

UC2B Makes Deal to Widen Fiber Network

Article Source: The News-Gazette

Champaign, IL – After more than a year in waiting, residents who committed hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the expansion of Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband finally have an answer about its future.

During the next few years, officials announced Thursday, the network will be built out to the rest of the cities — a crucial step forward in keeping the system afloat over the long run. And much as they envisioned, it will be a private company that comes in to do the work and provide the service.

Family Video subsidiary iTV-3 will take over the operation, maintenance and customer service of what’s now operating as UC2B. The network’s 1,100 customers will be allowed to continue on their existing contracts if they choose. Moving forward, however, they will get their service from the private provider instead of UC2B.

But the linchpin of the deal has bigger ambitions: iTV-3 also plans to build out the high-speed fiber network to neighborhoods where at least half of the residents agree to purchase a subscription. That means hard-wired and high-speed Internet, TV and voice connections to homes which can muster up support in their areas.

Officials hope that, eventually, the high-speed fiber network will reach every home in the community.

“It was articulated that that was what we would need to sustain this and grow this,” said UC2B manager Sabrina Gosnell.

The existing $31 million network, which the cities and the University of Illinois cooperated to build mostly with federal grant money, is now somewhat limited in scope. The grant-funded portion of the network reaches only low-income neighborhoods where Internet access had not previously been prevalent — part of government agencies’ goal to roll out access to crucial online services in disadvantaged areas.

When they set out to build the network in 2009, local officials always knew they would have to find a way to expand the network to the rest of the community to keep afloat the business that has essentially turned into an Internet service provider — something like Comcast or AT&T on a smaller scale.

The deal relieves UC2B of the business side of the network, Gosnell said.

“The not-for-profit is a startup for all intents and purposes,” she said. “It’s not easy to be a startup. It’s especially not easy to be a startup ISP.”

The Internet service provider arm of UC2B started as a function of Champaign city government before it was officially turned into its own private nonprofit agency last October. Gosnell said that, in November, iTV-3 expressed interested in building out the network.

While there’s no dollar amount yet available, it will be a big investment for iTV-3 to expand the fiber network to neighborhoods which are not already covered in the two cities. Starting Thursday, residents anywhere can visit http://www.theperfectupgrade.com to commit to buying the service — iTV-3 will be obligated to build fiber infrastructure in any neighborhood where 50 percent or more residents sign up.

That’s actually an important business strategy, Bowersox-Johnson said.

“Ultimately, that’s what we want,” he said. “We need them to build in neighborhoods where there’s enough people to stay afloat.”

The nonprofit agency called UC2B which is currently running the network will drop its operations, maintenance and customer service responsibilities. It will instead begin to focus on promoting digital literacy and getting the word out about the buildout, said UC2B board chairman Brandon Bowersox-Johnson.

And the nonprofit will have a role in rallying residents to sign up.

“If you can sign up half of your neighbors, you will get this in your neighborhood,” Bowersox-Johnson said.

More than 500 residents in 2012 had already signed up and committed nearly $400,000 toward the expansion as UC2B began gathering cash to entice a private company to build the network out. Those residents offered the cash in return for a promise of future discounts and being among the first connections when that private builder came in.

In the absence of a deal with a private service provider, that money has sat untouched since then. Some residents received refunds, and UC2B officials said they will continue to allow refunds should residents not be happy with the deal. Anyone who has already committed money, however, will still be eligible for the same discounts they were promised from the beginning.

Officials all along asked residents to be patient while they worked out the details of a big deal. UC2B officials say they will communicate with existing customers and those who had committed money so everyone is aware of what’s going on and what their options are.

“I didn’t think it would take this long,” Bowersox-Johnson said. “And I really applaud all the people in the community who have been this patient.”

Press:

Gig.U Executive Director Blair Levin on the Announcement of the Urbana Champaign Gigabit Network Partnership, Gig.U

UC2B Announces Partnership with Private Sector Company, Smile Politely

UC2B News Conference, Fixed Media [VIDEO]

UC2B announces partnership with private sector company – See more at: http://smilepolitely.com/culture/uc2b_announces_partnership_with_private_sector_company/#sthash.0lLhQX15.dpuf
UC2B announces partnership with private sector company – See more at: http://smilepolitely.com/culture/uc2b_announces_partnership_with_private_sector_company/#sthash.0lLhQX15.dpuf

Champaign Among Fastest-Growing Cities in Illinois

San Francisco, CA (April 8, 2014) – NerdWallet, a consumer advocacy website, recently conducted a study to find the fastest-growing cities in Illinois – and Champaign ranked third.

A hub of central Illinois, Champaign is home to the University of Illinois flagship campus and saw median incomes in town grow by 32.2% between 2009 and 2012. Tech companies are expanding in Champaign, including new jobs added at Intel and an expansion of the Yahoo! offices at The Research Park at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The Research Park is also supporting job and income growth in Champaign through its startup incubator Enterprise Works, which supports science and technology startups with lab and office space, entrepreneurship classes and the resources of the university community. The city’s population also grew by 4% between 2009 and 2012, laying claim to almost 70,000 residents.

To find the fastest growing cities in Illinois, NerdWallet evaluated 119 cities, towns and census-designated places and examined the following variables:

·       Population growth
·       Employment growth
·       Income growth

“Champaign’s strong population and income growth helped support the city’s ranking on our list,” NerdWallet analyst Maggie Clark said. “The population in Champaign increased by 4.0% between 2009 and 2012, while the median income increased by a whopping 32.2% during that same period.”

Other places in the top 20 include Chicago Heights and Normal. See the full study here.

2014 Innovation Celebration Winners Announced

Innovation Celebration Logo

Over 250 people gathered at the National Center for Supercomputer Applications for the Ninth Annual Innovation Celebration on the evening of February 27th to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions, taken risks, and provided leadership to ensure the continuing economic success of Champaign County, the ongoing success of the University’s economic development mission, and the growth of entrepreneurial talent and energy in the community.

Innovation Celebration is not merely an award for accomplishment, but a benchmark of success for those outstanding individuals, organizations and corporations who are nominated and selected to receive this prestigious award. Additionally, Innovation Celebration serves as a tangible collaboration between the University of Illinois, Parkland College and the community.

The winners were chosen out of more than 125 nominations.

Award Winners

Innovation Transfer Award – University of Illinois
Dr. Stephen Boppart

Innovation in Engagement Award – Parkland College
Kerris Lee

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Social Venture Award
Dr. Fouad Abd-El-Khalick & the EnLIST Team – University of Illinois

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Student Startup Award
Servabo

Entrepreneurial Excellence: New Venture Award
Electroninks

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Advocacy Award
Dennis Beard – Serra Ventures

Innovation: Economic Development Impact Award
Carlos Nieto – Nieto Enterprises

Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award
Dan Cermak – Volition

Innovation: Longevity Award
Prominic.NET

The EDC was pleased to work with the following sponsors of Innovation Celebration 2014: the University of Illinois’ Technology Entrepreneur Center, Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, and Office of Technology Management, along with NCSA, Parkland College, Singleton Law Firm, Serra Ventures, Hanson Financial, Ramshaw Real Estate, Pixo, Pavlov Media, Meyer Capel, Busey, Carle, Martin Hood Friese & Associates, IllinoisVENTURES, Fox Atkins Development, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC, and the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District.

A special thanks to 40 North for producing the videos.

Press:

Innovation Celebration winners to be announced Thursday night, The Daily Illini

Innovation Celebration winners announced, The News-Gazette

Storify (#INNCEL14 tweets & posts)

Prominic.NET Wins Innovation Celebration’s Innovation: Longevity Award, Prominic.NET

General Manager Dan Cermak Wins the CCEDC 2014 Entrepreneurial Excellence: Management Award, Volition

2014 Innovation Celebration Awards Ceremony [VIDEO]

2014 Innovation Celebration Photos

 

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