(20 ILCS 700/1002) (from Ch. 127, par. 3701-2)
Sec. 1002.
Findings and declaration of policy.
The General Assembly
hereby finds that numerous economic challenges confront the State,
including dramatic increases in foreign productivity and global market
competition which have forced a retrenchment in key business sectors and a
reduction in high paying manufacturing jobs which threaten to undermine
Illinois' standard of living and quality of life. In order to avoid
economic stagnation and decline, Illinois must keep pace with the global
revolution in manufacturing technology that is occurring in virtually every
major industrialized nation competing in the international marketplace.
The General Assembly further finds that an appropriate economic response
would require increasing the level of investment in research and
development;
utilizing industry, State and local government, labor, and
academia to
create state-wide programs; and fostering an improved environment for
productivity and technological competitiveness. These various programs
would utilize Illinois' present resources in many developing areas
including health care and biomedical research, information and
telecommunications, computing and electronic equipment, manufacturing
technologies and materials research, transportation and aerospace,
geoscience, financial and service industries, and agriculture and
biotechnology.
It is the purpose of this Act to identify, develop and commercialize
technology which will permit Illinois firms to successfully compete in
today's world markets, and to authorize State and local government to
promote systematically, within the provisions of this Act, those private
sector and nonprofit research institution efforts that will serve as
intermediaries to achieve the programs authorized under this Act; and
continue
to
insure Illinois' economic vitality and competitiveness through (i)
commercialization of new technology products; (ii) modernization of services by
technology enterprises; and (iii) modernization
of the industrial base of small and medium-sized manufacturers.
(Source: P.A. 91-476, eff. 8-11-99.)
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