CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) -- The University of Illinois received another multi-million-dollar grant to support biomanufacturing research.
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski said on Tuesday that the $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation will go to the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (iFab).
The money will be used to create biomanufacturing processes that can be used on a larger scale in the future, such as in pharmaceutical and biofuel production.
"For years, Central Illinois has been leading the nation in groundbreaking agricultural research," Budzinski said. "I'm thrilled to announce a $5 million federal grant for the University of Illinois to support a project that holds immense potential to revolutionize biomanufacturing. This funding builds on the $51 million federal dollars already heading to the iFAB Tech Hub and will further cement our region as America's Silicorn Valley. I'm excited to see this project come to fruition and the potential it will unlock for Central Illinois and the global bioeconomy."
Dr. Huimin Zhao is the Steven L. Miller Chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering, a professor of chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics and bioengineering, and the Director of NSF AI Research Institute for Molecule Synthesis at the University of Illinois. And, Zhao is leading the biomanufacturing research project.
The iFAB Tech Hub works to improve biomanufacturing capacity and the creation of bio-based products, while also providing jobs and "cementing" the region's importance in the ag-tech corridor, according to a release sent out by Budzinski.
Budzinski also said that iFAB was chosen one of 12 inaugural Tech Hubs across the country to support bio-based research.