HB3188eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3188 Engrossed LRB097 08631 HLH 51444 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-1010 as follows:

(20 ILCS 605/605-1010 new)

Sec. 605-1010. Illinois Research Network.

(a) There is created the Illinois Research Network. The Illinois Research Network is intended to: provide broad and rapid access to information about research capabilities and scholarly interests; encourage the use of existing Illinois faculty and federal research laboratory resources to address local, State, and national needs; link the Illinois academic and research laboratory communities into the technology and the economic development efforts of the executive branch of State government and other State and local agencies; enhance communication and cooperation within the Illinois academic and research laboratory communities and between these communities and statewide audiences, particularly business, government, education, and the general public; and link the Illinois academic and federal research lab communities into the Illinois small and large business market.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall cause to be established an easily accessible online database for the purpose of compiling research expertise, intellectual property, and ongoing sponsored research projects at academic institutions across the State. The Department may make grants to Illinois university faculty to create, develop, and implement the database. The database shall be updated by university faculty and department heads with current information, including biographical information, faculty research areas, project data, grant information, available technologies, and links to publications.