The Illinois Applied Research Institute, launched at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in late 2013, connects research across campus, engages with industry and federal clients to understand their needs, and bridges research and development gaps to bring research applications to market faster. With plans to expand across the state, the ARI is currently focused on four technical thrust areas: Critical Infrastructure, Data Science, Materials and Manufacturing, and Multi-Scale Simulation Modeling. The ARI is comprised of over 40 staff members and has provided over 30 internship opportunities to students. With more than 30 partnerships, the ARI works closely with federal and state agencies, national labs, industry and foundations to accelerate technology transition. The ARI is based in the University of Illinois Research Park, Champaign-Urbana's technology and scientific business center. More information about ARI can be found at http://appliedresearch.illinois.edu/.