Region of commerce and industry along Interstate 88 in the Chicago metropolitan area
The Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is a region of commerce and industry located along Interstate 88 in the Chicago metropolitan area, primarily in DuPage, Kane, and DeKalb Counties. The corridor is home to the headquarters or regional centers for many Fortune 1000 companies (including many specializing in research, development, logistics, and technology), several office and industrial parks, colleges and universities, research and scientific institutions, medical centers, government centers, and abundant shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment amenities. In addition to the I-90 Golden Corridor, the I-94 Lakeshore Corridor, and the I-55 Industrial Corridor, the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is one of the principal economic centers in suburban Chicago.
History
The first companies that formed the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor began locating in Naperville in the 1960s. In 1962, Northern Illinois Gas (now Nicor) moved its research and administrative facilities to Naperville in 1962, followed by Bell Laboratories (1964), and the Amoco Research Center (now BP) in 1969.[1]
In Batavia, Fermilab was established as the National Accelerator Laboratory in 1967, with its particle accelerator becoming operational in 1972.[2]
The Corridor Group was formed in 1982, with representation by over 80 high technology companies, national labs, associated industries, and colleges and universities.[3]
Companies
The
Oak Brook Terrace Tower, which contains nearly 800,000 square feet of office space and houses several companies, is the tallest building in suburban Chicago, standing at 418 feet (31 stories).
Major companies with a strong presence in the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor include:
- Ace Hardware, a hardware store chain headquartered in Oak Brook
- Acxiom,[4] in Downers Grove, is a customer and data information management company
- Aldi, a grocery store chain with US headquarters in Batavia
- APL Logistics, a freight transportation company with offices in Oak Brook
- Blistex, Incorporated, a personal care products company headquartered in Oak Brook
- BP, an international energy company with its North American chemicals headquarters and research facilities in Naperville
- Calamos, an asset management firm headquartered in Naperville
- Caterpillar, a construction equipment manufacturer with a plant in Montgomery
- ConAgra Foods, a packaged foods company with offices in Naperville
- Coskata, Inc., an energy research company headquartered in Warrenville
- Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace
- Devry University, an international technical college headquartered in Downers Grove
- Dover Corporation, a manufacturer of specialized industrial products and equipment headquartered in Downers Grove
- Eby-Brown, a wholesale distributor headquartered in Naperville
- Exelon, a Fortune 100 energy company, has its Exelon Nuclear headquarters in Warrenville and offices for ComEd in Oakbrook Terrace[5]
- Farm Progress, an agricultural publication publisher headquartered in St. Charles
- FGI Universal LLC, the largest frozen produce importer in the USA in Naperville
- First Alert, a safety products company headquartered in Aurora
- Hyundai, a motor vehicle company with regional offices in Aurora
- Joint Commission, health institution or program accreditation agency headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace
- MetLife, an insurance company with offices in Aurora
- Microsoft a computer technology company with offices in Downers Grove
- Mitutoyo, a company specializing in measuring instruments and metrological technology with U.S. headquarters in Aurora
- Molex, an electronic components manufacturer headquartered in Lisle
- Nalco, a water treatment and chemical company headquartered in Naperville
- Navistar, an automotive manufacturer headquartered in Lisle
- Nicor, a gas utility company headquartered in Naperville
- Nissan Motors, an automotive manufacturer with offices in Aurora and Naperville
- Nokia, an international telecommunications company, with offices in Naperville and Lisle.
- Oberweis Dairy, a dairy products company headquartered in North Aurora
- Portillo's Restaurants, a restaurant chain headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace
- Redbox a media rental company headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace
- Sanford L.P., a writing products manufacturer headquartered in Oak Brook
- SAP America, the Americas' subsidiary of SAP AG, the world's largest business software company with offices in Downers Grove.
- Sara Lee, a food company headquartered in Downers Grove
- Smithfield Foods, a meat products manufacturer with subsidiary Armour-Eckrich Meats headquartered in Lisle and a processing facility in St. Charles
- Sunshine Biscuits, a cracker, cookie, and cereal manufacturer headquartered in Elmhurst
- Tellabs, a telecommunications company headquartered in Naperville
- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., an automobile manufacturer with regional offices in Aurora and Naperville
- VVF, a personal care products manufacturer with a plant in Montgomery
- Westell, a modems manufacturer headquartered in Aurora
Medical centers
Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora
- Adventist GlenOaks Hospital, in Glendale Heights
- Adventist Hinsdale Hospital, in Hinsdale
- Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, in Downers Grove
- Central DuPage Hospital, in Winfield
- Delnor Community Hospital, in Geneva
- Edward Hospital, in Naperville
- Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, in Elmhurst
- Kishwaukee Community Hospital, in DeKalb
- Provena Mercy Medical Center, in Aurora
- Rush-Copley Medical Center, in Aurora
The DeKalb County Courthouse, in Sycamore