The Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is a region of commerce and industry located along Interstate 88 in the Chicago metropolitan area, primarily in DuPage, Kane, and DeKalb Counties. The corridor is home to the headquarters or regional centers for many Fortune 1000 companies (including many specializing in research, development, logistics, and technology), several office and industrial parks, colleges and universities, research and scientific institutions, medical centers, government centers, and abundant shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment amenities. In addition to the I-90 Golden Corridor, the I-94 Lakeshore Corridor, and the I-55 Industrial Corridor, the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor is one of the principal economic centers in suburban Chicago. History The first companies that formed the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor began locating in Naperville in the 1960s. In 1962, Northern Illinois Gas (now Nicor) moved its research and administrative facilities to Naperville in 1962, followed by Bell Laboratories (1964), and the Amoco Research Center (now BP) in 1969. In Batavia, Fermilab was established as the National Accelerator Laboratory in 1967, with its particle accelerator becoming operational in 1972. The Corridor Group was formed in 1982, with representation by over 80 high technology companies, national labs, associated industries, and colleges and universities. Cities and villages Cities and villages located partially or wholly within the scope of the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor include: Aurora Batavia Campton Hills Carol Stream Clarendon Hills Cortland DeKalb Downers Grove Elburn Elmhurst Geneva Glendale Heights Glen Ellyn Hinsdale Kaneville Lisle Lombard Malta Maple Park Montgomery Naperville North Aurora Oak Brook Oakbrook Terrace St. Charles Sugar Grove Sycamore Villa Park Warrenville Westchester West Chicago Westmont Wheaton Winfield Woodridge Companies Major companies with a strong presence in the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor include: Ace Hardware, a hardware store chain headquartered in Oak Brook Acxiom, in Downers Grove, is a customer and data information management company Aldi, a grocery store chain with US headquarters in Batavia APL Logistics, a freight transportation company with offices in Oak Brook Blistex, Incorporated, a personal care products company headquartered in Oak Brook BP, an international energy company with its North American chemicals headquarters and research facilities in Naperville Calamos, an asset management firm headquartered in Naperville Caterpillar, a construction equipment manufacturer with a plant in Montgomery ConAgra Foods, a packaged foods company with offices in Naperville Coskata, Inc., an energy research company headquartered in Warrenville Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting,