iFAB Awards $51 Million in Grants to EDA Tech Hub

The Illinois Fermentation and Agricultural Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Technology Hub has been awarded a nearly $51 million grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's Technology Hub Program. The iFAB Consortium, led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, received a second phase implementation grant to position Central Illinois as a global leader in biomanufacturing and precision fermentation, supporting national security, economic growth and job creation.

“Winning this grant is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of our partners and the strategic importance of leveraging biology as a manufacturing technology of the future. We are excited to lead this effort to position Central Illinois as a hub for biomanufacturing in the U.S. and abroad,” said Beth Connerty, iFAB Regional Innovation Lead and Associate Director of Business Development at the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory in the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Following approval of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, EDA designated 31 regional innovation and technology hubs for Phase 2 Implementation Grants last October, and today EDA announced that iFAB has been selected as one of 12 technology hub designees selected for Implementation funding.

“The Tech Hub designation and second phase funding are just the beginning, and we are poised for continued growth and investment with a focus on expanding our workforce, strengthening entrepreneurship and further developing our technology capabilities,” said Carly McCrory McKay, executive director of the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation and iFAB leader. “The commitment and collaboration of our partners, from higher education and government agencies to industry leaders and startups, has played a critical role in getting to this stage. Their expertise, resources and innovative spirit are key to our strategy as we advance these vital efforts. The future is bright for iFAB, and together we are setting a new standard for what can be accomplished in biomanufacturing here in Central Illinois.”

EDA Phase 2 grants fill a gap to support a wide range of biomanufacturing operations developing precision fermentation innovations to create zero-emission, high-value products from agricultural commodities. By harnessing microorganisms to transform local feedstocks (mainly corn and soy) into a variety of products, including fiber, biofuels and food ingredients, these efforts have the potential to revolutionize domestic manufacturing. The precision fermentation industry is projected to reach $200 billion by 2040 and could create 1 million jobs by 2030.

The funding announcement follows strategic discussions in Washington, D.C., which highlighted the importance of biomanufacturing to national security and Central Illinois' unique ability to establish itself as the biomanufacturing epicenter in the United States.

“Central Illinois is uniquely positioned to lead in biomanufacturing, leveraging an ecosystem of industry leaders, innovative startups, world-class research and development, scalable infrastructure, abundant feedstock production and a robust transportation network,” said Nicole Bateman, president of the Decatur-Macon County Economic Development Corporation and iFAB leader. “iFAB's vision and this groundbreaking investment in infrastructure positions the U.S. to compete with Europe and China, which are both investing heavily in this sector.”

Ultimately, the Phase II Implementation Grant will strengthen iFAB’s ability to attract and support companies to join the growing biomanufacturing ecosystem in Champaign, Piatt and Macon Counties.

Expanding BioprocessingThe EDA grant will help realize IBRL's $40 million expansion, which includes upgrading its fermenter capacity by 1,500 liters.

Production line expansion: Primient and Synonym will receive funding to reach 13,000 liters of fermentation capacity. ADM will use Phase 2 funding to upgrade its precision fermentation facility to 80,000 liters. This major investment strengthens Decatur's role as a key player in Central Illinois' expanding biomanufacturing corridor.

iFAB Tech Hub Management: The EDA grant will support management of the iFAB Tech Hub and formally establish leadership roles for Connerty, McCrory McKay and Bateman, as well as Laura Appenzeller, University of Illinois vice chancellor for innovation and executive director of the Research Park, and Kim Kidwell, University of Illinois vice chancellor for strategic partnerships and initiatives. Brian Jacobson, IBRL's associate director for strategic operations, will serve as program manager for infrastructure development. iFAB will hire additional staff to support these efforts.

iFAB is supported by the coalition Innovate Illinois, a strategic initiative led by Governor J.B. Pritzker and co-chaired by University of Illinois President Robert J. Jones.

“Today's EDA grant not only recognizes but actively advances our mission to establish Central Illinois as a significant biomanufacturing player on the global stage. With these new resources, we are ready to accelerate our initiatives and ensure our region not only meets but establishes the gold standard in biomanufacturing innovation,” Jones said. “This partnership is a great example of how the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign can leverage its expertise and resources to drive progress and prosperity in our immediate neighborhood.”

About iFAB
The Illinois Fermentation and Agricultural Biomanufacturing (iFAB) technology hub is poised to become a global leader in precision fermentation and biomanufacturing, an industry expected to grow to $200 billion over the next 15 years. Leveraging biology as the manufacturing technology of the future, iFAB uniquely integrates world-class research and development, industry leaders, innovative startups, scalable infrastructure, abundant feedstock production, an unmatched transportation network, and strong relationships with corn and soybean suppliers within a 51-mile radius. This unique lab-to-line approach has established the iFAB region (Champaign, Piatt, and Macon counties) as a premier destination for the biomanufacturing industry.