Q: Is it EDGE or Edge?  

A: When you’re talking about the district, it’s always spelled in ALL CAPS. That's because EDGE isn’t just a word, it’s an acronym.

It stands for the four pillars that guide what we do:

• Explore: Encouraging curiosity and the pursuit of new ideas.
• Develop: Fostering groundbreaking solutions and partnerships.
• Grow: Supporting the growth of businesses and innovators.
• Engage: Building meaningful collaboration and shared learning.

Together, they define who we are and what we’re building here in Omaha - a vibrant innovation district where healthcare and life sciences breakthroughs take shape.  So next time you write about us, remember it’s EDGE, not “Edge.”

Q: What is the EDGE District?

A: The EDGE District - short for Explore, Develop, Grow, Engage - is a 30-acre innovation district anchored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska. Purpose-built to accelerate innovation in health and life sciences, the district fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, translational research, and commercialization across the life sciences, HealthTech, and supporting industries.

Q: What is the mission of the EDGE District?

A: As a hub for health-focused scientific discovery, entrepreneurship, and commercialization, the EDGE District’s mission is to cultivate collaboration, innovation, and economic growth by nurturing a vibrant ecosystem of people, places and programs that unite academia, healthcare, industry, and the broader community.

Q: Who leads the EDGE District?

A: The EDGE District is led by UNMC and supported by strategic public-private partnerships.

Q: How is the EDGE District governed?

A: UNMC owns and stewards the district, with input from public-private partners. Strategic decisions align with UNMC’s mission, community needs, and long-term health science innovation goals.

Q: Why is Omaha an ideal location for an innovation district?

A: Omaha offers a central U.S. location, low cost of living, a highly educated workforce, and exceptional quality of life - all factors that attract industry leaders from around the world. What sets Omaha and Nebraska apart is the rare convergence of massive infrastructure investment, bold commitments to next-generation energy, and universities preparing talent at scale. This alignment is positioning Nebraska as a national contender in AI, cybersecurity, digital innovation, and health sciences. Momentum like this doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s the result of public power, private sector leadership, and higher education moving in the same direction.

Q: What facilities are available in the EDGE District?

A: The EDGE District features facilities designed to support startups, scale-ups, corporate innovation teams, and their service providers and suppliers. Key assets include:

• Catalyst – A mixed-use building offering co-working and private office space, rentable event areas, on-site amenities, and Big Grove Brewery.
• CORE (Center of Research Excellence) – A state-of-the-art facility with wet and dry labs, research areas, offices, and ground-floor retail.
• Parking Garage – A 750-stall structured garage with plans for a future wrap development to add activation and density.

Q: Does the EDGE District offer wet lab or research space?

A: Yes. The CORE building includes wet and dry labs designed to support BSL-1 and BSL-2 research activities. In addition, a dedicated wet lab incubator is in development to provide flexible, short-term lab space for early-stage biotech startups.

Q: Are there GMP-compliant facilities available?

A: Yes. UNMC provides access to specialized, regulatory-compliant facilities such as the Nebraska Nanomedicine Production Plant (NNPP) and the Biologics Production Facility (BPF). Both are GLP-, GMP-, and GTP-compliant, supporting clinical-grade manufacturing, analytical testing, and cryopreservation—particularly for nanomedicine, cell therapy, and gene therapy development.

Q: Who owns Catalyst, CORE and the Parking Garage?

A: Catalyst is a public-private partnership. The land is owned by UNMC, while the building is currently owned by a joint venture between Koelbel & Company and Greenslate Development. UNMC owns a (commercial) condominium unit and is expected to assume full ownership over time.  CORE is fully owned by UNMC.  The structured parking garage was privately developed and serves EDGE District tenants, employees, and visitors. Access and operations are managed with the City of Omaha through Park Omaha.

Q: What additional development is planned?

A: Future phases may include additional lab and office space, co-working, housing, retail, and public amenities. All projects will align with UNMC’s priorities and the EDGE District’s mission.

Q: How do I book event space at Catalyst, and what is the pricing?

A: Event space at Catalyst is available to tenants, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine faculty, staff, and students, as well as the broader community. Pricing varies, with tenants receiving a 50% discount. Visit the Events tab at CatalystOMA.com to check availability and submit a booking request.

Q: When will future development phases be completed?

A: The EDGE District will be developed in phases over the next decade, with timelines guided by market demand and UNMC’s strategic priorities. Each phase builds on the last, adding new facilities, amenities, and opportunities as the district grows - and as the vision evolves to serve its unique audience and mission.

Q: How does the EDGE District fit into UNMC’s broader strategy?

A: The EDGE District is a core part of UNMC’s vision for healthcare and innovation. It complements Project NExT, Project Health, and UNMC’s global research leadership by creating a translational hub where discoveries move rapidly from lab to market.

Q: How does the EDGE District compare to other innovation districts nationally?

A: Like Kendall Square in Boston or Discovery Square in Rochester, the EDGE District is designed to connect health sciences research, innovation, entrepreneurship, commercialization, and community. Its differentiator is direct integration and adjacency with a world-renowned academic medical center (UNMC), offering tenants unparalleled access to clinical expertise, translational infrastructure, and a collaborative Midwestern location with strong quality-of-life and cost advantages.

Q: What is the projected economic impact?

A: The EDGE District is projected to generate long-term impact through job creation, talent attraction, and company formation. Independent studies estimate it will generate significant regional economic activity over the coming decades.

Q: Who can lease space in the EDGE District?

A: Companies of all sizes that align with the district’s mission are welcome. While especially focused on health sciences, biotech, and digital health, the district also invites corporate innovation teams, suppliers, service providers, and collaborators who contribute to and benefit from its ecosystem.

Q: What support is available to startups?

A: Startups often need smaller, affordable spaces with leasing flexibility as they grow and adapt. The EDGE District provides exactly that - co-working options, flexible lease terms (as short as one year), and future wet lab incubator space designed for early-stage companies. Beyond physical space, the district is also developing a menu of other offerings to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem including entrepreneurial education, technology transfer, collaborative R&D initiatives, connections to valuable resources and services, improved access to capital, and additional information and resources to help innovators thrive.

Q: Are there opportunities for corporate partners?

A: Yes. Corporations can lease space, sponsor programs, collaborate on R&D projects, support workforce initiatives, or co-invest in startup development.

Q: What types of programs are offered?

A: The EDGE District offers programming in three areas:

• Community-centered programming – Events to foster a sense of community, inviting people to come together and connect in a space that values creativity, inclusivity, and lifelong learning.
• Entrepreneurial Education – A range of entrepreneurial education programs designed to support business ventures, with a strong focus on healthcare and life sciences innovation. These programs equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to navigate industry complexities and drive entrepreneurial success.
• Workforce Development – Training and upskilling aligned with high-growth health and life sciences industries.

Q: Can organizations propose programming or partnerships?

A: Yes. The district welcomes collaboration with higher education institutions, corporations, nonprofits, and investors to deliver mission-aligned programming.

Q: How does the EDGE District connect to workforce pipelines?

A: The EDGE District plans to partner with Nebraska’s universities, colleges, and training programs to prepare the next generation of talent. By linking students and professionals with research opportunities, internships, and on-site training, the district helps companies access a strong talent pipeline and connects education with real-world industry needs.

Q: Are there funding opportunities or incentives?

A: While the EDGE District does not directly provide funding, companies may qualify for state and federal innovation grants, R&D tax credits, or philanthropic funding. The district aims to connect tenants with partners and resources to support growth and access to capital.

Q: Are there tax incentives or other benefits for startups in Nebraska?

A: Yes. Startups in the EDGE District may qualify for Nebraska incentives such as the Prototype Grant, SBIR/STTR matching funds, and R&D tax credits. Federal, state & city programs will also contribute at the district-level, funding facilities and infrastructure that make EDGE an affordable, innovation-ready home for growing companies.

Q: What opportunities exist for collaborative R&D in the EDGE District?

A: The EDGE District fosters collaboration between entrepreneurs, UNMC researchers, clinicians, industry partners, and government agencies to tackle complex healthcare challenges. Through joint research projects, sponsored studies, consortia, and public–private partnerships, companies can co-develop new therapies, devices, diagnostics, and digital health solutions. These collaborations leverage UNMC’s clinical expertise, research cores, and translational infrastructure while providing industry partners with access to talent, patients, and regulatory support.

Q: What is UNeHealth and how does it support collaboration?

A: UNeHealth is a nonprofit subsidiary of UNMC that facilitates partnerships between the university and industry. It streamlines the process of working with UNMC researchers and clinicians by managing contracts, compliance, and administrative support for sponsored research, clinical trials, and service agreements. For companies in the EDGE District, UNeHealth makes it easier to access UNMC expertise, research infrastructure, and patient populations - - helping collaborations move forward quickly, efficiently, and in compliance with regulatory standards.

Q: How does technology transfer work at UNMC?

A: Technology transfer is led by UNeMed, UNMC’s and UNO’s technology commercialization office. UNeMed helps researchers and industry partners protect intellectual property, license new technologies, and launch startup companies. Tenants in the EDGE District benefit from close proximity to the academic medical center and the technology transfer resources, gaining streamlined access to licensing opportunities, startup support, and strategic partnerships that bring discoveries from the lab to the marketplace.

Q: How can companies partner with UNMC on research and innovation?

A: The EDGE District is designed to connect industry with UNMC’s research, clinical, and innovation ecosystem. Companies can collaborate through:

• Collaborative R&D – Joint projects, sponsored studies, clinical trials, and public–private partnerships that bring together UNMC researchers, clinicians, and industry teams to co-develop new therapies, devices, diagnostics, and digital health solutions.
• Technology Transfer – Through UNeMed, UNMC’s technology commercialization office, companies can access licensing opportunities, protect intellectual property, and launch startup ventures built on university discoveries.
• Clinical & Translational Access – Partners benefit from UNMC’s research cores, patient access (through UNeHealth), and regulatory infrastructure, helping innovations move quickly from lab to market.

Together, these pathways make the EDGE District a bridge between discovery and commercialization, helping ideas grow into real-world healthcare solutions.

Q: Can tenants access biospecimens or datasets?

A: Yes. Tenants may request access through the Nebraska Biobank and other institutional resources, subject to research protocols, Institutional Review Board (IRB) oversight, and compliance regulations.

Q: What community features are part of the EDGE District?

A: Planned features include retail, restaurants, green space, and housing options to support a dynamic live-work-play environment. The vision is to create a vibrant, inclusive community where innovation and lifestyle thrive together.

Q: Is the district open to the public?

A: Yes. While labs and offices are secured, the district includes publicly accessible spaces such as retail, restaurants (such as Big Grove Brewery), event venues, and outdoor gathering areas.

Q: What role does the community play?

A: The community plays an active role through public programming, educational workshops, and workforce training. Local entrepreneurs, nonprofits, students, and residents are invited to participate in events and use open-access amenities.

Q: Are there opportunities for students?

A: Yes. Students from UNMC, UNO, Creighton, and other institutions can engage in internships, research collaborations, entrepreneurial education, and workforce training opportunities connected to the EDGE District.

Q: How can I learn more or get involved?

A: Whether you’re a startup, researcher, investor, or partner organization, we’d love to connect. Visit EDGEOmaha.com and send us a message using the general inquiry form or contact us form.  

Q: Who should I contact about leasing, partnerships, or programming?

A: For leasing inquiries, please submit the Real Estate Inquiry form.  For programming or partnerships, please submit the General Inquiry form.