Fifty top global and regional leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere and partner nations will visit University of Illinois System facilities this week as part of the Americas Competitiveness Exchange, a program offered by the Organization of American States with the support of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

“I am thrilled to welcome the Americas Competitiveness Exchange to Illinois,” U of I System President Tim Killeen said. “This is an incredible opportunity for innovators in education, industry and government from across the Americas to see Illinois’ dynamic economy and incredible platform for performance for themselves and talk about how we can all work together to meet shared challenges and create opportunities.

“Working in partnership, we can do more than any of us could ever do alone, and the exciting international links like those that can grow from these meetings are the key to building sustainable economies and helping all of our citizens thrive in the decades ahead.”

Every year since 2014, ACE selects 50 global and regional leaders for a weeklong tour of selected states or regions to visit top innovation hubs; advanced research and technology centers; cutting-edge companies and business development organizations; and leading academic institutions. The tour’s only previous visit to Illinois took place in 2015.

The intent of the program is to forge economic partnerships between ACE participants and their tour hosts.

“Each ACE edition provides unique opportunities for cultivating new partnerships that spur economic growth,” said Kim Osborne, executive secretary for integral development, OAS. “The multiplier effect of the ACE resonates well beyond the week spent in any host community or country. The focus on innovation and entrepreneurship is key to the success of the ACE and its impact on the economic competitiveness of our region.”

U of I System and system-affiliated stops on the tour include the University of Illinois Chicago Innovation Center; the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, National Petascale Computing Facility and Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation; the University of Illinois Research Park; Distillery Labs in Peoria, a member of the Illinois Innovation Network; and Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago.

“DCEO looks forward to joining our partners in hosting the Americas Competitiveness Exchange,” said Kristin Richards, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity director. “We are excited for a week of conversation and collaboration that will strengthen relationships and foster new economic development opportunities. Illinois is proud to showcase all that our great state has to offer including our successful models for innovation and economic development.”

ACE participants are decision-makers who are transforming their countries, cities and communities in areas related to economic development, innovation and entrepreneurship. They must be citizens of OAS member states and permanent observer countries to the OAS.

ACE Illinois is led by DCEO and the U of I System with support from partners that include Intersect Illinois, World Business Chicago and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. ACE Illinois will highlight the state’s six key industry clusters of advanced manufacturing; life sciences; next generation agriculture, agriculture tech and food processing; quantum computing, AI and microelectronics; energy production and manufacturing; and transportation, distribution and logistics.

“Having participated in previous ACE programs, I know that the power of personal interactions during ACE can drive subsequent economic development activities,” U of I System Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation Jay Walsh said. “The rich agenda we have in store for the delegation will showcase the breadth of the Illinois economy — from urban to rural and across a diverse set of economic sectors.

“We are confident that ACE Illinois will be fruitful for our international visitors as well as the numerous Illinois-based hosts. We look forward to the development of many agreements between and among the delegates and the organizations represented in our schedule.”