Access the expertise and innovations of academia with the speed and drive of industry. DPI’s Applied R&D team partners scientists with universities, government labs, and businesses on climate, AI/ML, food, and fintech research to build a stronger future for all of us—in Illinois and around the globe.
DPI offers researchers and scientists a suite of resources—from strategic planning and proposal development, to digital tools and industry integrations—to grow your program and expand your impact.
DPI’s “Helping Explore Research Opportunities” (HERO) services are designed to accelerate a variety of research projects. As a scientist, you get access to:
Ensure the digital assets you develop during the research process can scale over time. With DPI’s digital solutions team, you can:
Collaborate with organizations to transform your breakthrough research into practical, real-life solutions. DPI’s corporate engagement team can connect you to industry professionals across key categories, including:
DPI helps manage the interface between academia and industry, enabling organizations to solve real problems and create new opportunities through research and development projects. Whether you’re a for-profit corporation, government entity, or innovation hub, we’ll work with you to build lasting relationships across multiple parties to address your research initiatives around topics like climate resiliency, food security, artificial intelligence, and data privacy.
DPI provides a suite of applied R&D resources for corporations, including:
Connect your organization to research expertise across 18 leading universities and federal labs. Using DPI’s R&D network, we’ll help you meet your objectives through:
DPI’s corporate engagement team offers services that can help your organization further diversify its R&D portfolio, including:
DPI collaborates on a wide variety of research and development initiatives with public and private stakeholders to advance the planet and society. Take a closer look below at some of our key applied R&D efforts.
The Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC) provides data-based analysis to our state’s policy and education leaders’ questions. IWERC complements DPI’s ambitions to improve education and training for in-demand tech jobs as well as conduct applied research.
DPI’s climate team works with federal agencies, industry, and academic partners to build a climate intelligence ecosystem that translates state-of-the-art climate science into focused solutions, services, and climate policy guidance.
The Clean Energy and Equitable Transportation Solutions (CLEETS) NSF-UKRI Global Center brings together eminent climate, energy, data science, and transportation experts in two regions to advance interdisciplinary research and community engagement. CLEETS identifies solutions that accelerate equitable, use-inspired decarbonized road transportation.
The Cannabis Research Institute performs research from seeds to social outcomes under one roof, delivering information tailored to stakeholders including the general public, legislators, and policy makers.
Wastewater-Based Epidemiology monitors a variety of pathogens in wastewater around the state of Illinois to provide rapid assessment of public health crises. The structures being set up enable rapid response to future pandemics.
The AI Consulting Practice develops frameworks and tools for organizations to adopt responsible and safe deployment of artificial intelligence.
While the history of cannabis as a crop runs deep, the scientific analysis of its properties is newer. CRI plans to provide a robust body of research to advance public knowledge about the health effects and safety of cannabis use, focusing on equity in cannabis research ecosystems, with the goal of creating an evidence-based, research-driven cannabis marketplace.
CRI recently opened a lab near the Illinois Medical District, intended as a research base for studying ways to improve cannabis as an agricultural crop, map cannabis compounds to understand the application to diseases and maladies, and a testing ground to evaluate cannabis pathogens that may plague crops.
DPI members play an important role in all DPI activities. Learn about the benefits of becoming a member and be part of our efforts in tech talent development, applied R&D, and business building.
DPI’s scientists are focused on solving the state’s most pressing problems through world-leading research.
