The following is a guest column written by Robert Kerr, executive director of innovation and opportunity at the University of Illinois Springfield, that was published by the Illinois Times on Aug. 31, 2023.

Ben Hage (also known as Nabih Elhajj) has been named director of Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s business incubator located in downtown Springfield. He is a leader in entrepreneurship, leadership development and business education.

University of Illinois Springfield Executive Director of Innovation and Opportunity Robert Kerr was on Sports Radio 1450's AM Springfield with Sam Madonia to talk about the future UIS Innovation Center on July 31, 2023.

Listen to the interview

The University of Illinois Springfield has officially purchased the downtown building that will serve as the new home of the UIS Innovation Center. The purchase of the three-story, 24,600-square-foot building located near the Illinois State Capitol at 401 E. Washington St., was completed on Nov. 18, 2022.

Scheduled to open in 2025, the UIS Innovation Center will serve central Illinois as part of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) to drive innovation, economic growth and workforce development across the state.