{"id":44,"date":"2017-10-18T15:39:02","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T15:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2017\/?p=44"},"modified":"2017-11-01T15:34:58","modified_gmt":"2017-11-01T15:34:58","slug":"nebraska-innovation-campus-inspires-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.unl.edu\/annualreport\/2017\/nebraska-innovation-campus-inspires-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Nebraska Innovation Campus Inspires Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An aerial photo and architectural rendering frames a view of Nebraska Innovation Campus at present and future, when a new multi-tenant building (bottom right) is complete.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nebraska Innovation Campus has become a destination for innovation. Just two years after its grand opening, the public-private research campus is nearing capacity, and expansion is underway to draw entrepreneurs and startups to its world-class facilities.<\/p>\n

By fall 2017, Innovation Campus\u2019 current facilities were fully leased, including space in the new Biotech Connector. With companies five years old or less driving a significant portion of U.S. job growth, expansion will enable Innovation Campus to attract entrepreneurs who want to work closely with university faculty and students, said executive director Dan Duncan.<\/p>\n

Construction began in July on an 80,000-square-foot multi-tenant building to be completed in 2018. Plans include a business incubator that could house National Science Foundation I-CORPS teams, student startups and community startups. The idea is to create a one-stop shop for resources to support entrepreneurs\u2019 success, including office space and access to mentoring and development programs, Duncan said. NIC is seeking potential partners and funders for this project.<\/p>\n

Driving the state\u2019s economic growth is a key goal of Innovation Campus. A recent Bureau of Business Research report showed that the annual economic impact from NIC business development and operations was $139.9 million in fiscal year 2016.<\/p>\n

New partners in 2017 are expanding that economic growth. In July, Bolero Information Systems LLC became the first university staff spinoff company to join NIC. Bolero is a web application development and design company specializing in research administration and business process automation.<\/p>\n

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Madeline Cass arranges flowers at NIC’s new eatery, The Mill Coffee & Bistro.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Adjuvance Technologies Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, announced plans in March to become the first tenant in the Biotech Connector, a research space that offers wet laboratory space for small- and medium-sized companies. Adjuvance holds a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health and will continue development of vaccine adjuvant products at NIC.<\/p>\n

Enhancing the campus\u2019 social and cultural vibe is The Mill Coffee & Bistro, a local favorite that opened its third location in June at NIC.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are moving forward rapidly. Nothing out here is stagnant.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Several NIC partners plan to expand in the coming year. Access to faculty expertise, student talent, and equipment and facilities has driven their rapid growth, Duncan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are moving forward rapidly. Nothing out here is stagnant,\u201d Duncan said. \u201cEven internationally, there is great interest in coming to Nebraska because of Innovation Campus.\u201d<\/p>\n