Illinois Innovation Voucher Program
Rolling DCEO grants up to $75,000 (75% reimbursement) pairing Illinois small businesses with university researchers in AI, quantum, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and life sciences. Round 3 announced Feb 2026 (~$2.6M available).
Check an Address — Free Snapshot
See whether a specific Chicago address sits inside the area that unlocks Illinois Innovation Voucher Program, alongside every other incentive that touches that parcel.
Illinois small businesses partnering with an Illinois university or research institution on an applied R&D project.
Illinois Innovation Voucher Program is administered at the state level. Depending on the program, eligibility may depend on the specific location, property type, or business activity rather than a single drawn boundary.
Boundaries are precise and change over time, so exact eligibility always depends on the specific address. The fastest way to know is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind.
Typical range · Up to $75,000 (75% reimbursement)
- +Up to $75,000 grant (75% reimbursement)
- +Connects small businesses with university research expertise
- +Targets innovation sectors prioritized by the state
- 1Identify a university research partner
- 2Submit application to DCEO during open round
- 3Execute project and request reimbursement
Visit innovate-illinois.com/dceo-incentives for next round timing
- University partnership letter / scope of work
- Project budget
- Small business documentation
This page is a starting point, not eligibility, legal, or tax advice. Verify current requirements, deadlines, and boundaries with the administering agency before applying or spending money — program rules and funding change over time.
- Phone
- (217) 782-7500
- Web
- Visit site ↗
Last verified 2026-05-21
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