The technology leader.

Illinois’ diversity is its strength. No state matches Illinois’ breadth of rich offerings in medical, agricultural, industrial biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology. Illinois provides resources to support every stage and area of innovative technology development, from basic research start-ups to large corporations. Our commitment to collaboration is unparalleled, as evidenced by flourishing public, private, and academic partnerships throughout the state.

But there’s more. Along with a $590 billion economy—the nation’s fifth-largest—Illinois boasts a 6 million-strong workforce, including over 150,000 scientists and engineers. Illinois is home to 33 Fortune 500 companies; the world’s largest futures and options exchange, CME Group Inc.; and is the national crossroads for rail, auto, truck, and air.

Illinois’ blend of quality of life and business infrastructure provides a unique setting for technology development and commercialization.

Did you know…

Illinois has the fifth-largest economy in the U.S. at $590 billion.
(Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, 2007)

Illinois serves as the headquarters of major Fortune 500 companies, including Abbott, Takeda, Boeing, Caterpillar, ADM, John Deere, Sears, Motorola, Kraft, and Baxter.

Chicago is the No. 1 Metropolitan Area for business development. This is the third year in a row the city was bestowed the honor. Chicago has also captured the top spot six out of the last seven years.
(Site Selection, March 2008)

Illinois is home to many tech companies’ R&D and engineering centers—including Orbitz, Yahoo!, Navteq, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Intel, THQ, Lucent, and Tellabs.

Illinois boasts some of the top graduate programs in the nation. Northwestern University (Kellogg) and University of Chicago (Graduate School of Business) rank in the Top 10 graduate business programs. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University (McCormick) universities rank in the Top 20 graduate engineering schools. And the University of Chicago (Pritzker) and Northwestern University (Feinberg) rank in the Top 20 medical schools.
(Source: US News & World Report, 2008)

Four Illinois universities rank in the Top 100 National Universities in the U.S.: University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology.
(Source: US News & World Report, 2008)

Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, and Chicago-Naperville-Joliet are among the “Best Green Cities in America.”
(Source: Country Home magazine, 2008)

In 2007, Lisle, Libertyville, Woodridge, and South Elgin were ranked among America’s “Best Places to Live.” In 2006, the honor went to Naperville, Orland Park, Aurora, and Bloomington.
(Source: Money magazine, 2007)

Chicago ranks in the top 10 cities that make the most of their natural resources.
(The Washington Post. June 17, 2006)