Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions, Inc. has increased its annual support of Illinois Institute of Technology with a $65,000 “Innovation Generation Grant.” Through the grant, Illinois Tech’s Interprofessional Projects Program, also known as IPRO, will partner with other Chicago-area Innovation Generation Grant recipients through IPRO NxtGen 2018: Exploring the Convergence of STEM Education, Big Data Science & Public Safety to Inspire Collaborative Innovation.

The Motorola Solutions Foundation awards grants each year to organizations, such as Illinois Tech, that support and advance public safety programs and technology and engineering education initiatives. Programs that serve underrepresented populations, including females, people with disabilities, and veterans remain a priority.

“The grant from Motorola Solutions Foundation, which has provided ten years of sustaining and increasing support, demonstrates that local museums, non-profits, and other organizations with STEM education and public safety missions embrace Illinois Tech’s distinctive approach to collaborative innovation,” said IPRO Director of Operations Thomas Jacobius.

Established in 1995, the Interprofessional Project course became the first of its kind to embed interdisciplinary, project-centered team learning experiences within the core education requirements of a university. It brings together students from different disciplines, such as design, psychology, and engineering, to work on a problem in an open-ended setting. In 2018–2019, with the help of the grant from Motorola Solutions Foundation, IPRO teams will collaborate with Shedd Aquarium in their research and education outreach efforts, the Chicago Public Schools Student Science Fair, Inc. to reimagine the science fair experience, and the American Red Cross to develop concepts that improve neighborhood-specific preparedness and responsiveness to fire emergencies.

With support over the years from the Motorola Solutions Foundation Innovation Generation Grant program, Illinois Tech has expanded and enhanced its IPRO Program. “Our distinctive IPRO course integrates the power of teams with user-centered design methods. Because of the foundation’s support, IPRO teams have also been incorporating contemporary data science and predictive analytics techniques into their approaches to research, ideation, and problem-solving,” stated Jacobius.

“The Motorola Solutions Foundation is honored and privileged to support the work of Illinois Institute of Technology,” said Matt Blakely, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We believe in organizations that are fostering innovation, building partnerships, and driving change, and we’re proud to be part of the positive impact they’re making in communities.” This year, Motorola Solutions Foundation grants will support programs that help more than three million students, teachers, first responders, and community members around the globe.

For additional information on the Motorola Solutions Foundation grants program, visit: motorolasolutions.com/foundation and for more information on Illinois Institute of Technology, please visit news.iit.edu.