Central Illinois Tech Hub Awarded $51 Million Grant
The Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub has been awarded a $51 million Economic Development Administration implementation grant, paving the way for new markets for corn and soybeans in the region.
New opportunities for biomanufacturing in central Illinois.
Beth Conerty, regional innovation officer with iFAB, explained that the grant will enable the creation of products that have been manufactured for a long time using biological processes and biological feedstocks. Precision fermentation is a key tool in this process.
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, whose 13th district includes the Hub’s identified counties of Champaign, Piatt, and Macon, emphasized the importance of new markets for farmers in the district. The grant is expected to create more opportunities in the bio economy.
“One of the things I hear very loud and clear from my farmers in the district is that they want new markets.” - Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski
The grant funding will be split between the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab at the University of Illinois, ADM, Primient, and Synonym to expand central Illinois research and production facilities. This is expected to unlock around $680 million in private funding to attract and support biomanufacturing companies.
Research and development in biotechnology.
The iFAB consortium is led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The grant is a significant opportunity for the region, with the potential to benefit a wide range of people and demographics.
“This is a great opportunity for such a big range of people and demographics here in central Illinois.” - Beth Conerty
The iFAB Tech Hub is poised to become a major player in the bio economy, driving growth and innovation in the region.
The future of biomanufacturing in central Illinois.
