Illinois Technology and Research Corridor

The Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is a region of commerce and industry located along

In Batavia, Fermilab was established as the National Accelerator Laboratory in 1967, with its particle accelerator becoming operational in 1972.^[2]

The Corridor Group was formed in 1982, with representation by over 80 high technology companies, national labs, associated industries, and colleges and universities.^[3]

Cities and villages

Cities and villages located partially or wholly within the scope of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor include:

Companies

Major companies with a strong presence in the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor include:

• Ace Hardware, a hardware store chain headquartered in Oak Brook
• Acxiom,^[4] in Downers Grove
  , is a customer and data information management company
• Aldi, a grocery store chain with US headquarters in Batavia
• APL Logistics, a freight transportation company with offices in Oak Brook
• Blistex, Incorporated, a personal care products company headquartered in Oak Brook
• BP, an international energy company with its North American chemicals headquarters and research facilities in Naperville
• Calamos, an asset management firm headquartered in Naperville
• Caterpillar, a construction equipment manufacturer with a plant in Montgomery
• ConAgra Foods, a packaged foods company with offices in Naperville
• Coskata, Inc., an energy research company headquartered in Warrenville
• Oakbrook Terrace
• Dover Corporation, a manufacturer of specialized industrial products and equipment headquartered in Downers Grove
• Eby-Brown, a wholesale distributor headquartered in Naperville
• Exelon, a Fortune 100 energy company, has its Exelon Nuclear headquarters in Warrenville and offices for ComEd in Oakbrook Terrace^[5]
• Farm Progress, an agricultural publication publisher headquartered in St. Charles
• FGI Universal LLC, the largest frozen produce importer in the USA in Naperville
• First Alert, a safety products company headquartered in Aurora
• Follett Corporation, Bookseller, E-Commerce and software company in Westchester
• Hyundai, a motor vehicle company with regional offices in Aurora
• Joint Commission, health institution or program accreditation agency headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace
• MetLife, an insurance company with offices in Aurora
• Microsoft a computer technology company with offices in Downers Grove
• Mitutoyo, a company specializing in measuring instruments and metrological technology with U.S. headquarters in Aurora
• Molex, an electronic components manufacturer headquartered in Lisle
• Nalco, a water treatment and chemical company headquartered in Naperville
• Navistar, an automotive manufacturer headquartered in Lisle
• Nicor, a gas utility company headquartered in Naperville
• Nissan Motors, an automotive manufacturer with offices in Aurora and Naperville
• Nokia, an international telecommunications company, with offices in Naperville and Lisle.
• Oberweis Dairy, a dairy products company headquartered in North Aurora
• Portillo's Restaurants, a restaurant chain headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace
• Redbox, a media rental company headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace
• Sanford L.P., a writing products manufacturer headquartered in Oak Brook
• Downers Grove
  .
• Sara Lee, a food company headquartered in Downers Grove
• Smithfield Foods, a meat products manufacturer with subsidiary Armour-Eckrich Meats headquartered in Lisle and a processing facility in St. Charles
• Sunshine Biscuits, a cracker, cookie, and cereal manufacturer headquartered in Elmhurst
• Tellabs, a telecommunications company headquartered in Naperville
• Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., an automobile manufacturer with regional offices in Aurora and Naperville
• VVF, a personal care products manufacturer with a plant in Montgomery
• Westell, a modems manufacturer headquartered in Aurora

Higher education institutions

• Aurora University is a private liberal arts college located in Aurora
• Benedictine University a private university located in Lisle
• The College of DuPage is a community college that primarily serves DuPage County, located in Glen Ellyn
• DeVry University, headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, offers numerous technical degrees at its eight Chicago area campuses.
• Elmhurst College is a private liberal arts college in Elmhurst
• Information Technology
  and Management.
• Kishwaukee College is a community college that primarily serves DeKalb County, in Malta
• Midwestern University, a private graduate and professional school of health sciences in Downers Grove
• National-Louis University is a private Chicago-based university with a campus in Lisle
• North Central College is a private liberal arts college located in Naperville
• Northern Illinois University, is a public university and research institution located in DeKalb. It is the second largest institution of higher education in the state of Illinois in terms of enrollment. A satellite campus is located in Naperville.
• Waubonsee Community College is a community college that primarily serves central & southern Kane County and northern Kendall County, in Sugar Grove
• Wheaton College is a private liberal arts college in Wheaton

Research institutions

• Argonne National Laboratory, on 1,700 acres (7 km²) in Lemont, is the oldest national research institution in the United States, chartered in 1946. The only multipurpose national laboratory in the Midwest, Argonne manages and operates a range of scientific user facilities, including the Advanced Photon Source, the Center for Nanoscale Materials and the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility. Argonne's annual budget is $650 million and employs 3,500 people. It is owned by the Department of Energy and operated by UChicago Argonne LLC.
• U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. It is home to the world's former highest energy particle accelerator, Tevatron
  . The accelerator was built in 1983 at a cost of $120 million, and was upgraded in 1994 at a cost of $290 million. It employs 2,100 people.

• Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, in Glendale Heights
• Adventist Hinsdale Hospital, in Hinsdale
• Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, in Downers Grove
• Central DuPage Hospital, in Winfield
• Delnor Community Hospital, in Geneva
• Edward Hospital, in Naperville
• Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, in Elmhurst
• Kishwaukee Community Hospital, in DeKalb
• Provena Mercy Medical Center, in Aurora
• Rush-Copley Medical Center, in Aurora

Government centers

• DeKalb County Government Center and Courthouse, located in Sycamore
• DuPage County Government Center, Judicial Center, and Fairgrounds, located in Wheaton
• Kane County Government Center and Courthouse, located in Geneva
• Kane County Judicial Center and Fairgrounds, located in St. Charles

Shopping centers

• Cantera, an open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment complex located in Warrenville
• Chicago Premium Outlets, an outlet mall located in Aurora
• Geneva Commons, an upscale, open-air lifestyle center located in Geneva
• Oakbrook Center, a regional upscale, open-air shopping mall located in Oak Brook. It is the largest open-air shopping center in the contiguous United States.
• Town Square Wheaton, an upscale open-air shopping center located in Wheaton
• Westfield Fox Valley, a regional enclosed shopping mall located in Aurora
• Yorktown Center, a regional enclosed shopping mall located in Lombard

Points of interest

• The Air Classics Museum, an aviation museum at
  Aurora Municipal Airport in Sugar Grove
• The Arcada Theater, a historic theater in downtown St. Charles
• Blackberry Farm, a historical farmstead in Aurora
• Cantigny, a large park with historical museums and gardens, in Wheaton
• The Convocation Center, a 10,000-seat arena on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb
• Drury Lane Theatre, a theater and dining center in Oakbrook Terrace
• The DuPage Children's Museum, a museum and interactive learning center in downtown Naperville
• The Egyptian Theatre, a historic theater in downtown DeKalb
• Elfstrom Stadium, a minor league ballpark, home to the Kane County Cougars, located in Geneva
• The Ellwood House, a historical museum in DeKalb
• The Glidden House, a historical museum in DeKalb
• The Grand Theatre, a historical theater in downtown Wheaton
• The
  Gurler House, a historical museum in DeKalb
• Hollywood Casino, a casino in downtown Aurora
• Huskie Stadium, a 30,000-seat football stadium located on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb
• Morton Arboretum, a botanical garden located in Lisle
• The Naperville Riverwalk, a riverwalk and park located in downtown Naperville along the DuPage River. The area is also home to the Centennial Beach recreational area and the iconic Moser Tower
• Oakbrook Terrace Tower, a 31-story office building located in Oakbrook Terrace. It is the tallest building in suburban Chicago.
• The Paramount Theatre, a historic theater located in downtown Aurora
• Pheasant Run and the Q Center, convention centers located in St. Charles
• Phillips Park Zoo, a zoological park featuring native species located in Aurora
• The Tivoli Theatre, a historic theater in downtown Downers Grove
• Two Brothers Roundhouse, a historic roundhouse, museum, and dining center located in downtown Aurora

See also

• Golden Corridor
• Lakeshore Corridor
• List of technology centers
• List of edge cities

References

41°50′N 88°30′W / 41.833°N 88.500°W / 41.833; -88.500