20 ILCS 605/605-355
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 20 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH|20 ILCS 605/ - Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. (Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law)|Article 605 - Department Of Commerce And Economic Opportunity

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