In Greater Omaha, biotechnology and agricultural technology aren’t simply growing. They’re thriving.

Fueled by world-class research, collaborative networks and a uniquely supportive business environment — and elevated further by hosting the annual Bio Innovations Midwest conference — the Omaha area rivals the country’s biggest innovation hubs.

Michael Dixon sees it firsthand.

“There’s an incredible amount of research coming in — about $250 million every year, give or take,” said Dixon, CEO of UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization arm of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). “Last year, we had 125 new inventions come through our doors. We were issued 25 or so patents, and 60% to 80% of those get licensed to companies, and more and more are becoming startup companies.”

These startups are being cultivated in an expanding ecosystem. Dixon points to the new Catalyst building, a health tech entrepreneurship hub, as just one example.

“Catalyst is where you take all that great science out of the university and put it in a business environment,” he said. “It’s about increasing the conversations and the interactions and demystifying the process of commercialization.”

This expansion, Dixon says, positions Omaha alongside other major cities in biotech infrastructure with a distinct advantage.

“In San Francisco, $5 million lasts you six months,” Dixon said. “In Nebraska, it lasts 16 months. You can find the talent. Real estate is cheaper and just as nice. And you have world-class facilities.”

That value proposition is paired with something harder to quantify: a culture of collaboration.

“Everyone realizes that we have to work together to be stronger,” Dixon said. “Within the city, if you need to get something done, it’s a call or two away. The city, the state, the chamber, the university — they all come together.”

Rob Owen, Executive Director of BioNebraska, a statewide trade organization with more than 135 member companies, echoes that sentiment.

“If we have a startup or company come in from out of state, everyone wants to see that company succeed,” Owen said. “In Nebraska, you’re only one or two phone calls from a decision maker. That’s unheard of in bigger markets.”

BioNebraska’s members encompass human health, animal health and biomanufacturing. This high-wage, high-skill sector offers fertile ground for new ventures, especially in biomanufacturing, where Nebraska’s agricultural strengths give it a natural advantage.

“We have so much corn that we should be at the forefront of biomanufacturing,” Owen said.

He points to the Cargill campus in Blair, the largest bioprocessing campus in the country, as a unique asset.

Adding to this momentum, Omaha is also home to the annual Bio Innovations Midwest conference, a premier event that highlights the city’s growing strength in biotechnology and biomanufacturing. The conference convenes industry leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors from across the Midwest and beyond. The event positions Omaha as a central hub for advancing innovation in human health, animal health, agriculture and industrial biotech.

Held at the CHI Health Center Omaha on Sept. 15 and 16, the conference serves as a stage for the region to demonstrate its competitive advantages. Bio Innovations Midwest reinforces Omaha’s strong biotech ecosystem.

This environment is attracting local talent and drawing entrepreneurs from across the country. Dixon recalls a colleague who moved his biotech company from San Francisco to Nebraska.

“His investors asked why,” Dixon said. “He told them: ‘In Nebraska, the money lasts longer. I can find the talent, and the infrastructure is already here.’”

Omaha and Nebraska are investing in the future of these industries. The message to investors and entrepreneurs is clear: We have the research, the talent, the facilities and the community to help biotech and ag-tech businesses grow.

“There’s proof here,” Owen said. “It can work here. And that sense of community will make you want to succeed.”