News

Nebraska Innovation Studio, extension helping communities transform libraries

Back in 2012, Beatrice Public Library leaders and stakeholders had an eye toward the future as they drew up plans for a building renovation. Among the ideas was an area to house a makerspace.

“Some in the public hadn’t heard of this concept, so we ended up not having the full space,” library director Laureen Riedesel said. “We do have a 3-D printer and computers set up there, and our idea is to let it evolve and as people become aware of what we have, they’d ask for machines that we could add.”

Innovation Studio creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, businesses

Since opening in 2015, Nebraska Innovation Studio has been a boon to Nebraskans looking to create new businesses, products and ideas.

The 3D printers – one of the most popular tools for innovators – are nearly constantly running.

“I call it instant prototyping,” Chris Rhodes, NIS member and entrepreneur, said. “(3D printers) are super beneficial because your turnover time is a lot faster and the cost is considerably cheaper than finding a company or purchasing a printer.”

Shaun Ilahi uses art to tell overlooked stories, spark connections

Shaun Ilahi is not like most people. As a lawyer in the general counsel in Omaha for Habitat for Humanities, he helps with affordable housing construction and provides support and services to underserved areas. But Ilahi is also a budding artist, striving to redefine what society defines as beauty.

The Wisconsin native completed his undergraduate degree in Brooklyn, New York, and discovered his love for travel and finding beauty in things around him that others don’t see.

Virtual Incision keeps building, learning at new Innovation Campus home

A mosaic of framed photos depicting great American innovators and explorers -- the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, Nikola Tesla -- are a constant reminder of Virtual Incision's central ethos.

"We do things, we build things here," said Shane Farritor, the chief technology officer of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln spinoff that designs and manufactures small, lightweight surgical robots.

NIC to hire director of business development

The Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation (NICDC) Director of Business Development is the lead person responsible for recruiting companies to partner with the University of Nebraska and other entities working on NIC. This position reports to the Executive Director of the Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation.

Faculty spinoff upgrades to a new home at Nebraska Innovation Campus

Virtual Incision, a medical device company founded by University of Nebraska faculty, has relocated and expanded its headquarters at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

Annual Hour of Code event hosts more than 800 at Innovation Campus

On the ground floor of the conference center at Innovation Campus, excited children sat at computers learning and practicing coding Saturday morning. On the floor above them, booths boasting virtual reality, 3D printers and remote-operated robots enthralled others.

Gov. Ricketts, Bio Industry Leaders Host Nebraska Biotech Connector Ribbon-Cutting

On Tuesday, November 20, Governor Pete Ricketts and project sponsors gathered at Nebraska Innovation Campus to cut the ribbon on the Biotech Connector, Nebraska’s first exclusive bio industry startup incubator.

Duncan announced as president of AURP Executive Committee

Daniel Duncan, Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation Executive Director, has been elected as president of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) for a two year term.

The association announced its 2018-2019 Board of Directors and newly elected leadership during a luncheon at the 2018 International Conference hosted by the University of Maryland’s Discovery District in College Park, MD.

UNL makes bid to land two USDA agencies at Innovation Campus

University of Nebraska officials have bid to become the new headquarters for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

University of Nebraska – Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green says the university has partnered with the state of Nebraska and the city of Lincoln on the bid to bring the two agencies to Innovation Campus in Lincoln, built on the former state fairgrounds.