About Us

Illinois ARCS is located at the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) in Singapore.

ADSC group collaborates
Illinois ARCS group collaborates

Vision:

To transform the way people and organizations use and interact with information technologies and contribute to the advance of the knowledge-based economy in Singapore and beyond.

Mission:

Illinois ARCS's mission is to identify and solve basic research problems with high scientific impact and high potential economic impact, and to help expand the workforce of highly trained IT researchers.  These activities will enhance Singapore's position as a hub for cutting-edge research in information technologies, interactive digital media and adaptive cyber infrastructure, while also facilitating interactions between University of Illinois researchers and research and industry partners in Singapore and Asia.

Those goals are achieved through:

  • Research projects at Illinois ARCS in Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Interactive Digital Media, the Smart Grid, and other areas, led by University of Illinois faculty.
  • Commercialization of technology from Illinois ARCS and Illinois through licensing agreements, spin-offs, and entry of Illinois startups into the Asian market.
  • Workshops and short courses on topics of special interest in Singapore.

History:

Illinois Advanced Research Center at Singapore Ltd. was formerly known as Illinois at Singapore Pte Ltd. The research center was originally launched as the Advanced Digital Sciences Center (ADCS) in 2009, in partnership with Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR). During its time with A*STAR,  the center conducted high-impact research in interactive digital media, data visualization, data analytics, and cybersecurity, generating over 400 publications, 26 technology licenses, and 12 spin-off entrepreneurial ventures in Singapore and the United States. In 2017, it became part of the National Research Foundation's Campus for Research  Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), with core funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF) for its program “Trustworthy and Secure Cyber-Plexus” (TSCP). The name change to Illinois ARCS took place in August 2023 in reflection of the expansion of its research portfolio.