The Chicago Nexus
AI & Robotics Center of Excellence
Algorithm
Meets its
Conscience
Pioneering the future of responsible artificial intelligence & robotics through rigorous research, ethical frameworks, and transformative innovation.
Chicago Principles
Ethics by Design
Engineered in Chicago
Innovation with Integrity
The Moral Compass for an Intelligent World
From Principle to Practice
Building Responsible AI
The Ethical Guardrails
for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Establishing responsible AI development through research and innovation.
Responsible Intelligence
AI systems that prioritize human welfare and societal benefit in every decision.
Conscience. Code. Chicago.
Merging technical excellence with ethical imperative in the heart of innovation.
Transparent Development
Open research methodologies that advance both scientific knowledge and public trust.
Visionary Leadership
Dr.Soma Ilangovan
Founder & Chief Executive/Ethics Officer
A prominent educator and social justice advocate, best known as a co-founder of Periyar International. This global organization, based in Chicago, promotes Periyar's ideals of secularism, human rights, and social equality. He is a recognized leader in the humanist community and has been acknowledged for his lifelong contributions to education and social justice.
Shan Sankaran
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
A visionary technologist and founder/CEO of FixNix Inc., a cloud-based GRC startup. Invited by Govt Of America under a highly competitive "Person of Extraordinary Ability" Greencard EB1A program as top-tier 1% Tech Executive and Entrepreneur. With a background in tech and security at companies like IBM and Microsoft, he is known for his entrepreneurial bootstrapping skills. He is now a champion for AI ethics, focusing on responsible AI deployment and ethical whistleblowing through initiatives like Aegis AI and the Washington DC non-profit Open Efficiency
Research Pillars
Advancing the frontiers of responsible AI through interdisciplinary excellence
Algorithmic Fairness
Developing methodologies to detect, measure, and mitigate bias in AI systems across diverse applications.
- Bias detection frameworks
- Fairness metrics development
- Equitable AI deployment
Explainable AI
Creating transparent and interpretable AI systems that enable human understanding and trust.
- Model interpretability
- Decision transparency
- Human-AI collaboration
AI Governance
Establishing frameworks for responsible AI governance, policy, and regulatory compliance.
- Policy frameworks
- Regulatory compliance
- Stakeholder engagement
Aiming to Transform Chicago's
AI, Robotics Innovation Landscape
Transforming AI development from Chicago to the world through ethical innovation.
Implementation Roadmap
Strategic phases to transform vision into reality
Foundation
0-6 months- Secure City approval
- Establish the Nexus Foundation
- Recruit Founding CEO
- Secure soft commitments from 2-3 anchor corporations
Infrastructure
6-12 months- Finalize anchor partners
- Secure a location
- Begin fund-raising for the $50M Horizon Fund
- Appoint Ethics Board
- Design accelerator curriculum
Launch
12-18 months- Open the center's doors
- 🌍 Global Summit on AI & Robotics 2026
- Launch first accelerator cohort
- First close of the Horizon Fund ($25M)
Scale & Expand
18+ months- Refine operations
- Measure success against KPIs
- Begin planning for global expansion
- Phase 2 of the facility
Global Summit on AI & Robotics2026
The premier international conference to bring together world leaders, researchers, and innovators to shape the future of artificial intelligence and robotics
Key Themes
Early bird registration ends March 31, 2026
Global Impact & Recognition
International Collaboration
Evolving Partnerships with leading institutions across 45 countries, fostering global cooperation in ethical AI development
Industry Recognition
To be recognized by UNESCO and IEEE as a premier platform for advancing responsible AI and robotics innovation
Research Excellence
Over 200 breakthrough research papers expected to be published from summit presentations, influencing global AI policy and development
Corporate Partnership Program
Anchor Tenant Program: Where Innovation Meets Industry
Founding Partners
Global corporations from Fortune 500 tech, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare sectors
Partner Benefits
Custom R&D Lab Space
Dedicated lab facilities at significant discount with 5-year commitment
First Look at Innovations
Priority access to breakthrough technologies from accelerator cohorts
Industry Advisory Council
Strategic seats to influence direction and focus of the Nexus
Right of First Refusal
Guaranteed access to pilot, license, or acquire emerging technologies
Why Chicago? The Chicago Principles in Action
Chicago's unique position as America's heartland makes it the ideal location for ethical AI development. The Chicago Principles—emphasizing equity, transparency, and responsible innovation—emerge from our city's rich tradition of pragmatic problem-solving and inclusive growth. Here, algorithms meet conscience, creating technology that serves all communities, not just the privileged few.
World-Class Universities
5 major research institutions driving AI innovation
Fortune 500 Hub
36 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Chicago
National Lab Access
Argonne's exascale computing power at our doorstep
Possible Strategic Research Partnerships
The Chicago Nexus will leverage the Schaumburg city's unparalleled ecosystem of academic excellence, national laboratory resources, and corporate innovation to create a unique collaborative environment.
Academic Partners
The "Brains" & "Specialists"
University of Chicago
(CS AI/ML & Booth CAAI)
Northwestern University
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
(UIUC Siebel School)
University of Illinois Chicago
(UIC AI Lab)
Loyola University
(Lab for Applied AI)
National Laboratory Partner
The "Muscle"
Argonne National Laboratory
(ANL)
Community & Networking Partners
The "Circulatory System"
Chicago HAI & 312-AI Meetup
Civic & Government Partners
The "Foundation"
City of Schaumburg, Chicago
The Nexus Accelerator
Curriculum Focus Areas
Rapid Technical Development
Accelerated prototype advancement with cutting-edge tools and methodologies
Ethical AI Auditing
Integrating responsible AI practices and bias detection from the ground up
Business Model Refinement
Building sustainable and scalable business models for long-term success
Corporate Pilot Preparation
Real-world application and validation through industry partnerships
The $50M Nexus
Horizon Fund
Nexus Horizon Fund
$50M
Strategic venture capital fund dedicated to scaling ethical AI startups from Chicago to global markets
Investment Strategy
First Rights Investment
Priority access to invest in top-performing accelerator graduates
Series A Focus
Providing crucial growth capital to keep innovations scaling in Chicago
Ethical AI Leadership
Supporting companies that prioritize responsible AI development
Fund Structure & Capital Sources
Sovereign Wealth Funds
Institutional investors seeking stable, long-term returns from strategically important AI sector investments
Anchor Corporations
Required minimum commitment of $2-5M each as a condition of partnership, ensuring aligned incentives
Innovation with Integrity
Shape Future of AI & Robotics
Join us in building the ethical foundations for tomorrow's intelligent world