When you’re building something as ambitious as a research park, every step forward counts. This month, as we launch the new USD Discovery District website, I’m reminded that progress isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about the connections we create, between people, ideas, and opportunities.
Just as Building 1 gave the USD Discovery District its first physical footprint, this new website gives our community a digital one. It’s more connected, more collaborative, and built to grow.
Over the past several months, our team partnered with Thel Consulting, led by Tung Nguyen, to create more than a website. Together, we laid the groundwork for stronger communication across the bioscience ecosystem. The new usddiscovery.com is now positioned to help researchers, entrepreneurs, and partners find each other faster, and gives us a better way to tell South Dakota’s story of innovation.
The platform also sets the stage for new AI-enabled tools, under development by Marc Niamba, that will help connect early-stage ventures to the right resources. As our systems expand, we’re creating a digital infrastructure that mirrors our physical one: smart, accessible, and designed to support growth.
A Team Effort, Start to Finish
This milestone reflects the work of a small, focused team. Marc continues to advance our biotech capabilities and support tenant research. Tung’s storytelling helps bring our mission to life. I’m proud of what we’ve built—not just the product, but the process behind it. It’s grounded in our shared commitment to deliver value to tenants, partners, and the broader community. That spirit comes through in every page of the new site.
Many South Dakotans may not know much about the USD Discovery District yet. My hope is that this new platform helps more people see what’s possible through bioscience innovation, right here at home. Our mission, momentum, and vision all point to the same truth: world-changing ideas can take root in our own backyard. And that’s something we can all be proud of.
Our goal remains clear—to create a place where innovation can grow. This website makes our progress visible. It shows how far we’ve come, where we’re headed, and invites others to join us.
Connecting Beyond the Screen
In September, our team moved the mission forward in tangible ways. We met with global bioscience firms exploring U.S. expansion, visited peer parks and institutions in Wisconsin, and hosted design students from USD and Chiba University who reminded us that clarity is its own form of creativity.
Each of these experiences reinforced a simple truth: progress happens through relationships.
That momentum continues into this fall. From Luceque Global’s K-Startup Showcase in Washington, D.C., to the 2025 International AURP Convention in Las Vegas, we’re connecting with peers and partners who share our focus on innovation with purpose. We’re also looking forward to the South Dakota Biotech 2025 Summit next week and hope to see you there.
Our work in Sioux Falls is part of a broader network. We’re not building in isolation—we’re building in community. We’re learning from peers, aligning across sectors, and creating new paths for talent and technology to move.
What’s Next
This website launch isn’t a new beginning. It’s a continuation of what matters most: building an ecosystem with intention. We’re simplifying how people connect with us, strengthening our systems, and preparing to release new tools and opportunities in the months ahead.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to explore the new site. Learn about our mission, meet the people behind the progress, and see how South Dakota’s bioscience future is taking shape, one connection at a time.