Discovery District

The USD Discovery District is an 80-acre contemporary corporate and academic research park is a public-private partnership effort between USD, the City of Sioux Falls, the South Dakota Board of Regents, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the business community through Forward Sioux Falls. The research park's expansion is anticipated to conclude over a 25-year timeline. Upon full completion, the expected economic outcomes encompass 26 privately constructed buildings, with a combined construction value exceeding $314 million. Additionally, the research park is projected to provide employment opportunities for nearly 2,800 individuals through companies situated within the district.

The concept for the Discovery District began more than two decades ago, with leaders in business and education coming together to set a strategy on growing technology-based business in South Dakota. In 2012, the legislature passed and Governor Daugaard signed legislation to authorize research parks on lands controlled by the South Dakota Board of Regents. The USD research park corporation was formed later that year. The USD Discovery District name was formalized in 2015.

In January of 2025, the USD Discovery District opened the doors of its first building — a 50,000-square-foot, two-story facility for innovators in biotech and life science. The build-to-suit office and research building is designed to offer cutting-edge lab space necessary to meet the stringent requirements of research and commercialization. Additionally, the building offers shared resources such as conference rooms and common areas to promote collaboration. Tenants also have access to university services such as prototyping, cGMP facilities and equipment to accelerate development.