Some of the most meaningful progress in South Dakota’s bioscience ecosystem today comes from teams that combine pragmatic execution with a clear mission for impact. The USD Discovery District, located in Sioux Falls, is one of those teams. In the newest episode of Favorable Environments, the leadership trio discusses how a research park backed by the University of South Dakota evolved from construction challenges into a hub for innovation, talent, and industry partnerships in its first operational year.
“A single conversation can ignite an unexpected trajectory for a prospect. The more partnerships we foster, the greater the momentum.”– Ryan Oines, President and CEO, USD Discovery District
A Purpose-Built Hub for Bioscience Growth, Anchored in Sioux Falls
The USD Discovery District was activated in 2025 with the opening of Building 1 as the first in a 26-building master plan on 80 acres. Backed by the University of South Dakota and regional stakeholders, the District connects academic research with private sector ambition to foster commercialization and economic development. Early tenants like OmegaQuant, the Small Business Development Center, Prairie Family Business Association, and New Heritage Ag have already moved in, signaling confidence in the park’s infrastructure and its role in scaling South Dakota’s bioscience sector.
What It Takes: Focus, Flexibility, and the Right Conditions
The team reflects on the District’s early journey and how it grew from a conceptual plan into a functional innovation campus with statewide reach. They share how building a small, agile team allowed for rapid pivots, such as refining tenant profiles to focus on research-oriented companies and developing a resource-mapping platform to connect prospects with local assets like universities and healthcare partners. Operating in Sioux Falls offered distinct advantages, including proximity to interstates I-90 and I-29, access to talent pipelines from USD and USD Sioux Falls, and a low-friction environment that enabled focused work on partnerships without the distractions of larger markets. Those conditions helped the District expand its network, attend conferences like the Association of University Research Park (AURP)’s international event, and align with entities advancing medtech, diagnostics, and rural health.
Translating Collaboration into Momentum for All
Later in the conversation, the team emphasizes how relationships remain the District’s true infrastructure, from USD’s support in ribbon-cutting events to inbound leads from global ambassadors. They describe why an abundance mindset—sharing opportunities with partners like Forward Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation—matters in economic development and how helping companies understand South Dakota’s culture and resources has become central to their work.
The story of the USD Discovery District’s first year demonstrates how purpose-built infrastructure and mission-driven partnerships can accelerate bioscience growth in places designed for resilience. It also highlights the strength of South Dakota’s emerging innovation ecosystem and the role the USD Discovery District continues to play as a conduit for commercialization, talent development, and applied research.
Want to see what this all looks like in action?
Check out our newest case study featuring OmegaQuant — one of the District’s earliest tenants and a Sioux Falls company now shipping to over 70 countries. Their story is a snapshot of what’s possible when mission, infrastructure, and community align.
Read it at usddiscovery.com/omegaquant
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To explore opportunities within the USD Discovery District, including leasing at Building 1, visit usddiscovery.com/building1.
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