Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s hub for innovation, has spent the last 10 years supporting a community of entrepreneurs and helping expand opportunity across the region. Earlier this month, we launched an exciting new phase in this venture by relocating to the third floor of the Horace Mann headquarters building in downtown Springfield.
I am confident this move will transform who we are and how we expand innovation. The space includes dedicated areas for collaboration, training and incubation. It lets us support more entrepreneurs, host larger events, expand co-working opportunities and create new programs. Most importantly, it gives us something we’ve long needed: room to grow.
This matters because Innovate Springfield’s mission is to build a regional innovation economy, and our new space provides the infrastructure we need to scale this effort. Students will see more opportunities to connect their learning with real-world projects. Businesses will find a deeper pool of talent and a hub for developing new ideas. Faculty will have a home to teach and do research downtown. Community groups will have a place where their challenges can meet creative solutions.
This relaunch also strengthens our ties to downtown Springfield. We believe innovation belongs at the center of civic life. By planting ourselves inside one of Springfield’s most recognizable office towers, we are saying loud and clear that innovation is part of this city’s identity and future. We are letting entrepreneurs and investors know that Springfield is serious about cultivating new industries, supporting talent and growing opportunities for everyone.
The timing is right for this. Innovate Springfield has already proven its value as the region’s first university-affiliated business incubator. Our members have launched startups, created jobs and brought new products and services to market. In 2018, we became part of UIS and connected that energy to a university system that believes in public service and community impact. With this transition to Horace Mann, we have the capacity to accelerate those efforts even further.
Our plan is ambitious. We want to combine our experience with the expertise of UIS faculty and students to leverage bigger, faster change in areas like AI, data analysis and 3D printing. These technologies are moving fast, and we need to as well.
I am confident that Innovate Springfield can bring together the people to make all this happen. You can expect to see more programs aimed at developing the next generation of entrepreneurs, stronger partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, public agencies and the community that want to solve real problems; and more opportunities for students to learn through hands-on experience.
This is a relaunch as well as a renewal of our promise to the community. Innovate Springfield exists to expand opportunity, nurture ideas and help this region thrive. The new space will serve as the foundation for this phase of our work.
We are ready to welcome businesses that want to experiment, learners who want to grow and community partners who want to solve big problems. The doors are open. The energy is high. If this sounds exciting, if it is something you would like to take part in, I urge you to connect with us. You can sign up for our mailing list or arrange a tour at uis.edu/innovation.
It’s a great day to be an innovator!
Robert Kerr is the University of Illinois Springfield’s executive director of innovation and opportunity.
Community column sponsored by Heartland Credit Union
Such an exciting milestone 🎉.
The new space at Horace Mann really feels like a launchpad for bigger ideas, stronger partnerships, and more opportunities for entrepreneurs and students alike.
It’s inspiring to see innovation placed right at the heart of Springfield’s community and future