Tell us about the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition. When was the company founded and what was the driving force?
The Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC) is a member-driven non-profit, nonpartisan organization that was created to understand, ignite, and cultivate technology-based economic development throughout Illinois.​ ISTC serves as a convener, catalyst, and champion for Illinois’ STEM ecosystems our members represent leaders in the state’s innovation ecosystem and include major Illinois research universities, federal labs, Fortune 500 corporations, and civic organizations. In 2013, ISTC launched the Illinois Corporate Startup Challenge (CSC), a program that connects global corporations with the entrepreneurial community for mutual benefit. Building upon the success of the CSC program, Venture Engine became the reimagination of the program with a more active and equity-focused approach. ISTC created the Illinois Science & Technology Institute (ISTI), in response to an increased need to bridge what was happening in the classroom and the innovation in the real world. Our goal was, and remains, to create pathways of access to STEM opportunities and resources for all students across Illinois In order to facilitate better connections, ISTI built the Mentor Matching Engine, an online platform that allows even the busiest professionals to connect with students anytime, anywhere, in a safe and secure environment.
Ideally, what does the next 5 years look like for ISTC?
Our Innovation programming will continue to examine gaps in the ecosystem and how we can forge further impactful relationships between start-ups, academic institutions, global corporations, and our innovation ecosystem partners. With the addition of our Executive Founder Series program and our Tech Talent program, we plan to expand our VentureEngine programming to support the journey of partnerships between our largest corporations and most innovative startups. Our Advocacy programs work at the state and federal levels to support innovative tech policies and programs, diversify the science and technology industry, and attract research and commercialization dollars to Illinois. Receiving funding for our organization is imperative to our work, so we will continue to expand our membership, create revenue-producing impact programming, and increase our grant submissions across state and federal opportunities.
What role does community play in the work that ISTC does?
The Illinois STEM ecosystem and community influence and support ISTC’s work in several ways. The base of ISTC Education’s work is rooted in acknowledging that success does not happen in a silo. Corporate Social Responsibility is more than just "doing good". It is the understanding that businesses and corporations are a part of the larger community. We value our partners who all go the extra mile to make an impact in their local school, city, state, and beyond. This extends to community allies serving as mentors on MME, developing new programming through non-profit collaborations, and helping us center equity in each program. Our community not only informs the present work we do but also supports us in shaping the future and creating a more diverse STEM talent pipeline. Community support and partnerships span from Illinois’ research community, universities, and collegiate students, to industry professionals, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations.
ISTC's website reads “OUR MISSION IS TO MEASURE, CONNECT, AND ENRICH THE ILLINOIS INNOVATION ECONOMY.” Can you dive into what this means and why it is important?
The ultimate goal at ISTC is to support Illinois innovation from every angle so it can sustain the growth necessary to make it a key player in the national industry. By recording relevant data and compiling it into publications such as the Illinois Innovation Index and Science & Technology Road Map, members of the STEM community can then identify patterns and opportunities for development or connection. It’s the ability to take advantage of unexplored paths that keep the industry growing at a steady momentum. It’s difficult to pursue those paths when they’re obstructed from view, and that’s what ISTC’s mission is about, providing as many resources as possible to see new opportunities.
What has been the most challenging part of working in your field?
ISTC Education is often approached or connected with companies eager to work with students underrepresented in the current STEM landscape. One of the greatest challenges to the ISTC Education programs has been defining expectations and aligning with our corporate partners on what success looks like. For many school communities, our programming is not the only challenge they are tackling. Some deal with student homelessness, food insecurity, unreliable technology access, and more. It is our goal to provide company mentors with tools and strategies to support student learners at every level. ISTC works hard to deliver thoughtful partnerships to benefit both the companies and the schools.
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