Established by the university in 1989, the Park houses a nucleus of businesses - including many faculty start-ups. The labor shed for over 1,500 employees of laboratories and companies affiliated with the Park, and the BioVentures Center, the state’s largest wet lab incubator for development of human health companies. This is in keeping with the UI's strategic plan to translate faculty research and inventions into economic impact to grow the local biosciences industry and contribute to the State’s economic growth. 

The Park enables maturing high technology companies to access essential services and physical capabilities necessary for their continued growth in Iowa. 

A total of 32 companies are currently located on the UI Research Park. A list of our current companies can be found at https://researchpark.uiowa.edu/park-overview/companies 

Integrating researchers and entrepreneurs is the goal of the Park and the BioVentures Center. Critical assets are located at the park:

• The State-funded laboratory of the Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing (CBB)
• The National Advanced Driving Simulator, a major, fully operational co-venture with the U.S. Department of Transportation
• A state-of-the art, 16,000 sq. ft. Hydraulics Wave Basin facility
• The State’s Hygienic Laboratory

FY 2026 funding will partially support the essential operation and maintenance expenses for the Research Park and the BioVentures Center. Additionally, the funding supports a variety of professional services and programmatic elements that enhances startup opportunities for BioVentures Center tenants, including faculty and staff from the UI orthopedic hospital and Steindler Clinic opened just north of the Research Park. Programmatic expertise on topics and challenges central to startups mission not only supports existing tenants but serves to attract new companies and entrepreneurs.