A significant source of candidate investments for IllinoisVENTURES is patented technology developed at the University of Illinois. The University’s Research and Development effort continues to be bedrock for technology advancement in the information technology, life science and basic engineering/physical science sectors. Some of the most revolutionary products in the world have been invented and developed from University of Illinois technologies including web browsers, Eudora, electronic mail system software, plasma display panels used in personal computers, flat screen TVs and many more.

The University has a significant pool of engineering, scientific, and medical talent and is a leader in technological advancement. In polls conducted by US News & World Report, the University of Illinois' College of Engineering at the Urbana-Champaign campus ranks among the top five research colleges in the United States with several of the departments ranked either first or second. The Medical School at the Chicago campus is the largest medical school in the United States. It has been noted that research is the engine of innovation, and that the talents and skills of individual researchers have made the University of Illinois a globally-recognized public research institution. In fact, for the year 2004, the University's Chicago and Champaign-Urbana campuses combined fostered a total of $860 million of research expenditures. This activity has spawned a commensurate leap in disclosures of innovations to the campus Offices of Technology Management as well as related patent activity.