News-Gazette (Dec. 12) -- The University of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are close to launching the Illinois Manufacturing Laboratory, a Chicago-area entity that would be a home for research and development of manufacturing technology and offer workforce training in new tools and software. Also: Crain's Chicago Business (Dec. 13), Chicago Sun-Times (Dec. 13), Chicago Tribune (Dec. 13).
Related story: Chicago Tribune (Dec. 12) -- As Caralynn Nowinski helps flesh out plans for the University of Illinois’ Chicago-based UI Labs to team academia with industry, she taps all of her earlier experiences as a U of I student, entrepreneur and investor. Nowinski is Associate Vice President for Innovation & Economic Development at the University of Illinois.