Section 20 ILCS 605/605-460 - Engineering excellence program(a) Coordination between engineering schools and private business is an important tool in fostering innovation. Universities have eager students, experienced faculty, and state-of-the-art research facilities. Businesses have existing markets, production capital, and evolving needs. The General Assembly believes that universities and businesses should share resources to allow students to participate in the research and development area of innovative design and to allow businesses to benefit from the developing skills of these students.(b) In order to facilitate engineering excellence, the Department may develop a program to achieve the goals set forth in subsection (a). Under this program, the Department may : (1) Annually contact the State's major public and private universities with engineering schools.(2) Request a one-page written summary of the internship, externship, or residency programs operated by the engineering college of each of the contacted universities.(3) Identify the manufacturing businesses within 50 miles of each university that responded under paragraph (2) that could benefit from assistance in the area of innovative design.(4) Send a letter to each manufacturer identified under paragraph (3), informing it of the university's program and advising the business to contact the university if it wishes to participate in the engineering school's program.(c) The Department may adopt rules for the implementation of this Section.Amended by P.A. 102-0276,§ 10, eff. 8/6/2021.Added by P.A. 097-0721,§ 5, eff. 6/29/2012.