PRIVACY POLICY 

Last updated September 08, 2026 

This Privacy Notice for Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (doing business as IMEC) (“we,” “us,” or “our“), describes how and why we might access, collect, store, use, and/or share (“process“) your personal information when you use our services (“Services“), including when you: 

  • Visit our website at https://www.imec.org or any website of ours that links to this Privacy Notice 
  • Engage with us in other related ways, including any marketing or events 

Questions or concerns? Reading this Privacy Notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. We are responsible for making decisions about how your personal information is processed. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@imec.org. 

 

1. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

Personal information you disclose to us. We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you express an interest in obtaining information about us or our products and Services, when you participate in activities on the Services, or otherwise when you contact us. 

Information collected through forms, event registrations, newsletter sign-ups, and other online interactions may be stored and managed through our customer relationship management and marketing platforms, including HubSpot. 

The personal information we collect may include your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, job title, and payment information when registering for events or purchasing services. 

Sensitive Information. We do not process sensitive information. 

Payment Data. We may collect data necessary to process your payment if you choose to make purchases, such as your payment instrument number, and the security code associated with your payment instrument. All payment data is handled and stored by WooCommerce. You may find their privacy notice link(s) here: https://woocommerce.com/document/marketplace-privacy/. 

All personal information that you provide to us must be true, complete, and accurate, and you must notify us of any changes to such personal information. 

Information automatically collected. We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate the Services. This information does not reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include device and usage information, such as your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, device name, country, location, information about how and when you use our Services, and other technical information. This information is primarily needed to maintain the security and operation of our Services, and for our internal analytics and reporting purposes. 

Like many businesses, we also collect information through cookies and similar technologies. You can find out more about this in our Cookie Notice: https://www.imec.org/cookie-policy/. 

The information we collect includes:
Log and Usage Data. Log and usage data is service-related, diagnostic, usage, and performance information our servers automatically collect when you access or use our Services and which we record in log files. Depending on how you interact with us, this log data may include your IP address, device information, browser type, and settings and information about your activity in the Services (such as the date/time stamps associated with your usage, pages and files viewed, searches, and other actions you take such as which features you use), device event information (such as system activity, error reports (sometimes called “crash dumps”), and hardware settings). 

 

2. HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?

We process your personal information to: 

  • Provide requested information, resources, and services 
  • Respond to inquiries and support requests 
  • Register and manage participation in events, training programs, and other activities 
  • Communicate information about IMEC programs, services, events, and resources 
  • Improve our website, services, and user experience 
  • Maintain the security and integrity of our website and systems 
  • Comply with legal and regulatory requirements 

 

3. WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

We may share your personal information in the following circumstances: 

  • Grant-Funded Program Reporting. We may share limited information with funding agencies, government entities, and program partners as required to administer, measure, and report outcomes for grant-funded programs and services. 
  • Service Providers. We may share information with trusted third-party vendors that assist us with website hosting, event registration, payment processing, email communications, marketing automation, analytics, and other business operations. These providers may include platforms such as HubSpot, WooCommerce, Google Analytics, and other service providers used to support our programs and services. These providers are authorized to use your information only as necessary to provide services on our behalf. 
  • Legal Compliance. We may disclose information when required to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests. 

 

4. DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

We use cookies and similar technologies to help operate our website, improve website performance, understand how visitors use our website, and support our marketing and communications efforts. 

We also use third-party tools, including HubSpot and Google Analytics, to help us analyze website traffic, manage communications, and better serve our users. Additional information about our use of cookies and tracking technologies can be found in our Cookie Policy. 

To the extent these online tracking technologies are deemed to be a “sale”/”sharing” (which includes targeted advertising, as defined under the applicable laws) under applicable US state laws, you can opt out of these online tracking technologies by submitting a request to info@imec.org. 

Specific information about how we use such technologies and how you can refuse certain cookies is set out in our Cookie Notice: https://www.imec.org/cookie-policy/. 

 

5. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Notice, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements). 

When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymize such information, or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible. 

 

6. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

We have implemented appropriate and reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our Services is at your own risk. You should only access the Services within a secure environment. 

 

7. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

We do not knowingly collect, solicit data from, or market to children under 18 years of age, nor do we knowingly sell such personal information. By using the Services, you represent that you are at least 18 or that you are the parent or guardian of such a minor and consent to such minor dependent’s use of the Services. 

 

8. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

Withdrawing your consent. If we are relying on your consent to process your personal information, which may be express and/or implied consent depending on the applicable law, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at info@imec.org. 

However, please note that this will not affect the lawfulness of the processing before its withdrawal nor, when applicable law allows, will it affect the processing of your personal information conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent. 

Opting out of marketing and promotional communications. You can unsubscribe from our marketing and promotional communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the emails that we send, or by contacting us at info@imec.org. You will then be removed from the marketing lists. However, we may still communicate with you about services, event registrations, support requests, or other non-marketing purposes. 

Cookies and similar technologies. Most Web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove cookies and to reject cookies. If you choose to remove cookies or reject cookies, this could affect certain features or services of our Services. For further information, please see our Cookie Notice: https://www.imec.org/cookie-policy/. 

If you have questions or comments about your privacy rights, you may email us at info@imec.org. 

 

9. DO UNITED STATES RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?

The table below shows the categories of personal information we have collected in the past twelve (12) months. The table includes illustrative examples of each category and does not reflect the personal information we collect from you. 

Category  Examples  Collected 
A. Identifiers  Contact details, such as real name, alias, postal address, telephone or mobile contact number, unique personal identifier, online identifier, Internet Protocol address, email address, and account name  YES 
B. Personal information as defined in the California Customer Records statute  Name, contact information, education, employment, employment history, and financial information  YES 
C. Protected classification characteristics under state or federal law  Gender, age, date of birth, race and ethnicity, national origin, marital status, and other demographic data  NO 
D. Commercial information  Transaction information, purchase history, financial details, and payment information  YES 
E. Biometric information  Fingerprints and voiceprints  NO 
F. Internet or other similar network activity  Browsing history, search history, online behavior, interest data, and interactions with our and other websites, applications, systems, and advertisements  YES 
G. Geolocation data  Device location  NO 
H. Audio, electronic, sensory, or similar information  Images and audio, video or call recordings created in connection with our business activities  NO 
I. Professional or employment-related information  Business contact details in order to provide you our Services at a business level or job title, work history, and professional qualifications if you apply for a job with us  YES 
J. Education Information  Student records and directory information  NO 
K. Inferences drawn from collected personal information  Inferences drawn from any of the collected personal information listed above to create a profile or summary about, for example, an individual’s preferences and characteristics  NO 
L. Sensitive personal Information    NO 

 

We may also collect other personal information outside of these categories through instances where you interact with us in person, online, or by phone or mail in the context of: 

  • Receiving help through our customer support channels 
  • Participation in customer surveys or contests 
  • Facilitation in the delivery of our Services and to respond to your inquiries 

 

Will your information be shared with anyone else? 

We may disclose your personal information with our service providers pursuant to a written contract between us and each service provider. 

We may use your personal information for our own business purposes, such as for undertaking internal research for technological development and demonstration. This is not considered to be “selling” of your personal information. 

We have not disclosed, sold, or shared any personal information to third parties for a business or commercial purpose in the preceding twelve (12) months. We will not sell or share personal information in the future belonging to website visitors, users, and other consumers. 

Your Rights. You have rights under certain US state data protection laws. However, these rights are not absolute, and in certain cases, we may decline your request as permitted by law. These rights include: 

  • Right to know whether or not we are processing your personal data 
  • Right to access your personal data 
  • Right to correct inaccuracies in your personal data 
  • Right to request the deletion of your personal data 
  • Right to obtain a copy of the personal data you previously shared with us 
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights 
  • Right to opt out of the processing of your personal data if it is used for targeted advertising (or sharing as defined under California’s privacy law), the sale of personal data, or profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects (“profiling”) 

 

Depending upon the state where you live, you may also have the following rights: 

  • Right to access the categories of personal data being processed (as permitted by applicable law, including the privacy law in Minnesota) 
  • Right to obtain a list of the categories of third parties to which we have disclosed personal data (as permitted by applicable law, including the privacy law in California, Delaware, and Maryland) 
  • Right to obtain a list of specific third parties to which we have disclosed personal data (as permitted by applicable law, including the privacy law in Minnesota and Oregon) 
  • Right to obtain a list of third parties to which we have sold personal data (as permitted by applicable law, including the privacy law in Connecticut) 
  • Right to review, understand, question, and depending on where you live, correct how personal data has been profiled (as permitted by applicable law, including the privacy law in Connecticut and Minnesota) 
  • Right to limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal data (as permitted by applicable law, including the privacy law in California) 
  • Right to opt out of the collection of sensitive data and personal data collected through the operation of a voice or facial recognition feature (as permitted by applicable law, including the privacy law in Florida) 

 

How to Exercise Your Rights. To exercise these rights, you can contact us by visiting https://www.imec.org/about-imec/contact/, by emailing us at info@imec.org, or by referring to the contact details at the bottom of this document. 

Under certain US state data protection laws, you can designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf. We may deny a request from an authorized agent that does not submit proof that they have been validly authorized to act on your behalf in accordance with applicable laws. 

Request Verification. Upon receiving your request, we will need to verify your identity to determine you are the same person about whom we have the information in our system. We will only use personal information provided in your request to verify your identity or authority to make the request. However, if we cannot verify your identity from the information already maintained by us, we may request that you provide additional information for the purposes of verifying your identity and for security or fraud-prevention purposes. 

If you submit the request through an authorized agent, we may need to collect additional information to verify your identity before processing your request and the agent will need to provide a written and signed permission from you to submit such request on your behalf. 

Appeals. Under certain US state data protection laws, if we decline to take action regarding your request, you may appeal our decision by emailing us at info@imec.org. We will inform you in writing of any action taken or not taken in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for the decisions. If your appeal is denied, you may submit a complaint to your state attorney general. 

California “Shine The Light” Law. California Civil Code Section 1798.83, also known as the “Shine The Light” law, permits our users who are California residents to request and obtain from us, once a year and free of charge, information about categories of personal information (if any) we disclosed to third parties for direct marketing purposes and the names and addresses of all third parties with which we shared personal information in the immediately preceding calendar year. If you are a California resident and would like to make such a request, please submit your request in by contacting us at info@imec.org. 

 

10. DO WE MAKE UPDATES TO THIS NOTICE?

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated “Revised” date at the top of this Privacy Notice. If we make material changes to this Privacy Notice, we may notify you either by prominently posting a notice of such changes or by directly sending you a notification. We encourage you to review this Privacy Notice frequently to be informed of how we are protecting your information. 

 

11. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?

Based on the applicable laws of your country or state of residence in the US, you may have the right to request access to the personal information we collect from you, details about how we have processed it, correct inaccuracies, or delete your personal information. You may also have the right to withdraw your consent to our processing of your personal information. These rights may be limited in some circumstances by applicable law. To request to review, update, or delete your personal information contact us at info@imec.org.