Research is central to the sustainability of the University and the region. Already a world leader in sustainability and climate research, Illinois is developing opportunities for researchers from diverse disciplines to come together to explore new frontiers in discovering solutions to the challenges ahead. Innovative research collaborations focused on creating knowledge and new technologies are being developed to discover, analyze, and implement new approaches for meeting the "long emergency." For example, a new collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley on the development of bio-energy solutions recently formed. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Center for the Advancement of Sustainability Innovations in the Office of the Engineer Research and Development Center, has been established to pursue several areas of collaboration revolving around food, water, and energy.