Our Vision

Our commitment to diversity

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion are a core foundation of our programs — not an afterthought

In 2019, the U of I system’s computer science, computer engineering, and data science programs graduated 3,476 people. How many of these graduates do you think were students of color? Just 59, or 1.6%, were Black. And just 183, or 5%, were Hispanic.

We must do better. DPI’s tech talent development programs are going to help fix this.

What We’re Solving For

Illinois is a top producer nationally of computer science and data science graduates. Yet, the state still faces a significant shortage of talent needed for its economy to grow.

Just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 30,000 more entry-level job postings seeking technology workers than there are related graduates. This gap is exacerbated by Illinois’ ongoing loss of young talent, with almost half of university-bound high schoolers leaving the state and an additional net loss of 20,000 millennial workers each year.

We are in a global war for the best and the brightest; DPI is how Illinois wins. We are a coordinated effort by the state’s top research universities and Argonne National Laboratory to band together to develop, attract and retain talent.

With $230 million in taxpayer funding and an inflow of grants, DPI is becoming a hive of technology activity. Our efforts span from applied R&D, performed by academic researchers in Illinois and beyond and funded by corporations, to tech training programs for minority and disadvantaged students.