A $1 million grant from John Deere will fund the development of a new John Deere Technology Innovation Center at the University of Illinois. Illini students and faculty will use the center for studies and research in agriculture, business, engineering and information technology.

The new facility, which is expected to be ready by July, is located in the
University Research Park in Champaign, Illinois and will create an accelerated
innovation environment to assist Deere in utilizing advanced electronics, mechatronics,
advanced sensors and control systems technology.

Deere said the new technology innovation center in Champaign will expand its
capabilities to respond to the rapidly changing environment for John Deere’s customers
and businesses through leveraging the capabilities of the University.

John Deere says the new center will serve as a satellite facility for the company’s Moline Technology Innovation Center, which is located on John Deere’s World Headquarters campus in Moline, IL.