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| Illinois Technology and Research Corridor | |
|---|---|
| Name | Illinois Technology and Research Corridor |
| Settlement type | Technology corridor |
| Subdivision type | State |
| Subdivision name | Illinois |
| Subdivision type1 | Counties |
| Subdivision name1 | Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County |
| Established title | Developed |
| Established date | 1960s–present |
Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is a high-technology and industrial cluster along Interstate 88 in the western suburbs of Chicago. The corridor links suburban centers such as Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Naperville, and Aurora with research parks, corporate campuses, and federal laboratories. It developed through federal, state, and private investments tied to regional initiatives and national programs.
The corridor's origins trace to post-World War II suburban expansion centered on communities like Lisle, Warrenville, Glen Ellyn, and Villa Park as firms relocated from Chicago and industrial centers such as Gary and Cleveland. Cold War era funding and agencies including Argonne National Laboratory and initiatives connected to Sandia National Laboratories-era research influenced early clusters. The 1960s and 1970s saw growth driven by corporations such as Motorola, AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, and General Electric spin-offs, alongside regional planning by bodies like the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and municipal partnerships in DuPage County. Major land-use changes followed federal acts impacting suburban development and infrastructure programs tied to Interstate Highway System expansions. The corridor later adapted to shifts from manufacturing to services as companies like Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International, and Boeing reconfigured operations.
The corridor runs roughly along the Fox River valley and the East-West transportation spine of U.S. Route 30 and Illinois Route 56. It spans municipalities including Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Lisle, Naperville, Warrenville, Aurora, Batavia, St. Charles, and Geneva. Natural features and preserves such as Morton Arboretum, Herrick Lake Forest Preserve, Moraine Hills State Park, and the DuPage River shape land use and research park siting. Boundaries are informal and often defined by concentrations of firms near nodes like Yorktown Center and transit hubs including Naperville Metra station.
The corridor hosts sectors including medical devices, information technology, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and financial services exemplified by companies such as Edward-Elmhurst Health, AbbVie, Ulta Beauty, Caterpillar Inc., and Discover Financial Services. Research and development activity ties to Argonne National Laboratory, corporate R&D centers, and industrial laboratories supporting innovation in areas linked to National Institutes of Health, DARPA-funded projects, and procurement by firms serving Department of Energy programs. The local labor market interacts with regional employers like United Airlines, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and McDonald's through supply chains and professional services firms including KPMG, Deloitte, and Ernst & Young.
Notable corporate presences include Navistar International, T. Rowe Price, Fifth Third Bank, BP America, Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Siemens. Research and institutional anchors include Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab partnerships, and university-affiliated centers from Northwestern University, University of Chicago, DePaul University, and Illinois Institute of Technology. Healthcare and biotechnology institutions such as Rush University Medical Center, Edward-Elmhurst Health, and Rush Oak Park Hospital also maintain facilities. Innovation has attracted startups and incubators affiliated with organizations like 1871 and accelerators connected to Techstars and Plug and Play Tech Center partnerships.
Transportation arteries include I-88, I-355, I-290, U.S. Route 34, and Illinois Route 56. Rail service is provided by Metra lines including the BNSF Railway corridor and Amtrak service via Naperville station. Airports serving the corridor include O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport, with corporate aviation via DuPage Airport. Utilities and broadband investments involve firms like Comcast, AT&T, Crown Castle, and public-private projects with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Commonwealth Edison infrastructure upgrades.
Higher education institutions with satellite campuses or partnerships include North Central College, Waubonsee Community College, College of DuPage, Aurora University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign extension programs, and research collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. K–12 districts such as Naperville 203, Indian Prairie School District 204, and Glenbard feed a skilled workforce; workforce training partners include Cook County College consortiums and workforce boards connected to Chicago Workforce Investment Board. Professional development ties to organizations like IEEE, American Chemical Society, and Association for Computing Machinery through conferences and local chapters.
Regional planning and economic development involve agencies such as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, DuPage County Economic Development Corporation, Kane County Development Department, and chambers like the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Redevelopment projects have leveraged tax increment financing, Enterprise Zone designations, and public-private partnerships with developers such as McCarthy Holdings and Related Midwest. Land-use initiatives intersect with conservation efforts led by Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and transit-oriented development promoted by Metra and the Regional Transportation Authority.
Cultural institutions and amenities include Wentz Concert Hall, Naper Settlement, Morton Arboretum, local festivals like Naperville Jaycees Ribfest, and performing arts centers in Aurora. Museums and libraries such as the Geneva Public Library District, Aurora Public Library, and DuPage County Historical Museum support civic life. Sports and recreation tie to venues like Cantigny Park, Fox River Valley Baseball League fields, and golf courses operated by entities including Billy Casper Golf. Civic organizations include local chapters of Rotary International, Lions Clubs International, and United Way of DuPage County coordinating philanthropy and volunteer programs.
Category:Economy of Illinois Category:Science parks in the United States