Illinois’ R&D Landscape and Path Forward 

Each year, the Illinois Innovation Index highlights research and development (R&D) activity in the state, benchmarking R&D volume and growth relative to peer states. This issue of the Index comes at a pivotal moment for R&D in the United States.

Although the economic benefits of R&D are well known, vital funding is currently under threat — both nationally and in Illinois. President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal would cut many of the agencies that invest in R&D, significantly scaling back the critical role the federal government plays in innovation. At the state level, a lack of stable funding to state universities and ongoing uncertainty around Illinois’ R&D tax credit have weakened the state’s competitiveness.  

• Illinois is one of the most active states for R&D in the nation, ranking eighth in overall R&D, academic R&D, and business R&D. However, despite the state’s high volume of activity, the R&D landscape in Illinois has grown less quickly than in many of its peer states.

• Overall R&D in Illinois grew by just 0.2 percent from 2010 to 2014, compared with 4.0 percent growth nationally. This lack of growth was due in large part to the relative stagnation of business R&D in the state, which grew by just 0.3 percent annually during that period, compared with 5.1 percent annual business R&D growth nationally.

• Illinois’ strongest academic disciplines for R&D match many of the state’s top business industries, including agriculture, medical sciences, and chemistry...

For previous issues of the Illinois Innovation Index, click here. 

For the full 2017 report on Illinois R&D, click here 

The Illinois Innovation Index highlights data and metrics on innovation and entrepreneurial activity across Illinois. The Index is a publication wholly researched and produced by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition.