University of Illinois

Sparks Economic Growth

Several new companies have grown out of federally funded research conducted at the Universtiy of Illinois— including EarthSense, which came from University of Illinois research funded by the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Innovation Research Awards and Network Perception, which emerged from University of Illinois research funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

About The Companies

EarthSense is an innovative agricultural robotics company specializing in AI-powered autonomous solutions. Located in Champaign, Illinois, its technologies — such as the TerraSentia platform — provide farmers with tools for highthroughput field phenotyping, labor efficiency, soil enrichment, and precision farming, all aimed at enhancing productivity while supporting sustainable agriculture.

Network Perception is a cybersecurity company that protects critical infrastructure through advanced network visibility and access-policy verification solutions. Located in Chicago, Illinois, Network Perception’s technologies empower security and compliance teams to achieve high levels of cyber resiliency.

Out-of-the-box autonomous, AI-enabled, modular platform for rapid development of robotics product and services for agriculture and off-farm applications.

Economic Impact

EarthSense employs more than 30 employees and is valued at more than $4 million. By addressing critical challenges like labor shortages, soil degradation, and climate change impacts, EarthSense is empowering the agricultural sector to increase profitability and sustainability.

Network Perception’s contributions to the regional economy include the creation of more than 30 jobs in cybersecurity and computer engineering, as well as partnerships with public and private institutions to help stimulate the next generation of cybersecurity talent. The company has shown significant potential for growth, as evidenced by its recent acquisition by Dragos, a leader in industrial cybersecurity, in October 2024. As threats to cyber-critical infrastructure continue to evolve, the demand for Network Perception’s specialized solutions is likely to increase, positioning the company for continued growth and impact in the cybersecurity sector.