§ 605-355

(was 20 ILCS 605/46.19a in part) Sec. 605-355. Grants for research and development in high technology and service sectors. (a) The Department is authorized to establish a program of grants to universities, community colleges, research institutions, research consortiums, other not-for-profit entities, and Illinois businesses for the purpose of fostering research and development in the high technology and the service sector leading to the development of new products and services that can be marketed by Illinois businesses. All grant awards shall include a contract that may provide for payment of negotiated royalties to the Department if the product or service to be developed by the grantee is subsequently licensed for production. (b) Grants may be awarded to universities and research institutions to assist them in making their faculties and facilities available to Illinois businesses. The grants may be used by a university or research institution for purposes including but not limited to the following: (i) to establish or enhance computerized cataloging of all research labs and university staff and make those catalogues available to Illinois businesses; (ii) to market products developed by the university to Illinois businesses; (iii) to review publications in order to identify, catalog, and inform Illinois businesses of new practices in areas such as robotics and biotechnology; (iv) to build an on-line, information and technology system that relies on other computerized networks in the United States; and (v) to assist in securing temporary replacement for faculty who are granted a leave of absence from their teaching duties for the purpose of working full-time for an Illinois business to assist that business with technology transfer. (c) Grants may be awarded to universities and research institutions, research consortiums, and other not-for-profit entities for the purpose of identifying and supporting Illinois businesses engaged in high technology and service sector enterprises. The Illinois businesses identified and funded shall include recipients of Small Business Innovation Research Program funds under subsections (e) through (k) of Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638, subsections (e) through (k)). Entities receiving grants under this subsection (c) shall be known as commercialization centers and shall engage in one or more of the following activities: (1) Directing research assistance for new venture creations. (2) General feasibility studies of new venture ideas. (3) Furthering the technical and intellectual skills of the managers and owners of Illinois small businesses. (4) Commercialization of technology and research. (5) Development of prototypes and testing new products. (6) Identifying and assisting in securing financing. (7) Marketing assistance. (8) Assisting Illinois inventors in finding Illinois manufacturers to produce and market their inventions. A commercialization center may charge a nominal fee or accept royalty agreements for conducting feasibility studies and other services. (d) Grants may be awarded by the Department to Illinois businesses to fund research and consultation arrangements between businesses and universities, community colleges, research institutions, research consortiums, and other not-for-profit entities within this State. The Department shall give priority to Illinois small businesses in awarding grants. Each grant awarded under this subsection (d) shall provide funding for up to 50% of the cost of the research or consultation arrangements, not to exceed $100,000; provided that the grant recipient utilizes Illinois not for profit research and academic institutions to perform the research and development function for which grant funds were requested. (e) Grants may be awarded to research consortiums and other qualified applicants, in conjunction with private sector or federal funding, for other creative systems that bridge university resources and business, technological, production, and development concerns. (f) For the purposes of this Section: "High technology" means any area of research or development designed to foster greater knowledge or understanding in fields such as computer science, electronics, physics, chemistry, or biology for the purpose of producing designing, developing, or improving prototypes and new processes. "Illinois business" means a "small business concern" as defined in 15 U.S.C. 632 that conducts its business primarily in Illinois. "Illinois research institutions" refers to not-for-profit entities, which include federally funded research laboratories, that conduct research and development activities for the purpose of producing, designing, developing, or improving prototypes and new processes. "Other not-for-profit entities" means nonprofit organizations based in Illinois that are primarily devoted to new enterprise or product development. "Private sector" has the meaning ascribed to it in 29 U.S.C. 1503. "University" means either a degree granting institution located in Illinois as defined in Section 2 of the Academic Degree Act, or a State-supported institution of higher learning administered by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University, or the Illinois Community College Board. "Venture" means any Illinois business engaged in research and development to create new products or services with high growth potential. (g) The Department may establish a program of grant assistance on a matching basis to universities, community colleges, small business development centers, community action agencies and other not-for-profit economic development agencies to encourage new enterprise development and new business formation and to encourage enterprises in this State. The Department may provide grants, which shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 35-360, to universities, community colleges, small business development centers, community action agencies, and other not-for-profit economic development entities for the purpose of making loans to small businesses. All grant applications shall contain information as required by the Department, including the following: a program operation plan; a certification and assurance that the small business applicants have received business development training or education, have a business and finance plan, and have experience in the proposed business area; and a description of the support services that the grant recipient will provide to the small business. No more than 10% of the grant may be used by the grant recipient for administrative costs associated with the grant. Grant recipients may use grant funds under this program to make loans on terms and conditions favorable to the small business and shall give priority to those businesses located in high poverty areas, enterprise zones, or both.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 90-454, eff. 8-16-97; 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)