ABOUT THE PARK

The Research Park at SDSU, South Dakota’s first and largest research hub, spans 125 acres and offers 32 leasable lots for businesses to build or lease from private developers. At its center is the 43,000-square-foot Innovation Center, providing customizable office and lab spaces.

Focused on connecting private industry with SDSU’s faculty and students, the park drives economic development and academic research. It supports startups and entrepreneurs with affordable space, business resources, and professional guidance while welcoming established companies.

Home to diverse tenants—from tech innovators to agricultural specialists—the park fosters innovation and collaboration, offering professional amenities like conference rooms to support growth.

ATTRACT.
DEVELOP.
RETAIN.

Our Mission

The Research Park strives to establish itself as a physical environment that attracts, develops, and retains companies aligned with the talent and sponsored research conducted at SDSU.

2012

The second wing of the BIC was completed adding an additional 16,000 square feet of lab and office space. The expansion of the park continued with a two story spec building built by Lloyd Companies with a total of 30,000 square feet available for customization.

2009

Construction began on the second building in the research park, the Seed Technology Laboratory. This lab is used to conduct research and develop, enhance, and coordinate discovery, teaching, extension/outreach, and technical services in seed and crop science, technology, and biotechnology, as well as breeding for South Dakota State University.

The infrastructure (roads, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and utilities) for the entire 125 acres of the park were completed, paving the way for more growth and opportunities.

2008

The first building in the park, Brookings Innovation Center (BIC), was completed in October 2008 and contained 27,000 square feet. This is a multi-tenant building that serves as the park’s headquarters and as an incubator for new start-up companies and entrepreneurs. The BIC also provides spaces and services for well-established companies who serve as mentors and business partners to the start-up companies.

2004

A partnership between the City of Brookings, Brookings County, state representatives, Brookings Economic Development Corporation, South Dakota State University, South Dakota State University Foundation, and several private sector interests came together with the common goal of propelling knowledge based economic development in eastern South Dakota. With that goal in mind, the SDSU Growth Partnership was formed and their primary focus was the creation of a research park in Brookings. This led to the development of the Research Park at South Dakota State University, formerly known as South Dakota State University Innovation Campus.

2006

At the end of 2006, construction development began on the first research park in the state of South Dakota – the Research Park at SDSU.

2021

Discussions began in early 2021 to build a state-of-the-art bioprocessing facility on the campus of the Research Park. Recognizing the project's potential to drive innovation and economic growth, state legislators committed $20 million in funding during the 2021 legislative session. By October, site work and foundation preparation were underway, laying the groundwork for what would become a major addition to South Dakota’s bioprocessing industry.

2022

Construction of the bioprocessing facility officially began in May 2022, marking a significant step forward in the project. Throughout the year, crews worked diligently to bring the vision to life, focusing on structural development, utilities, and interior framework.

2023

Major construction was completed in June 2023, signifying the transition from building to operational readiness. On July 1, the facility welcomed its first tenant, signaling the start of its contributions to South Dakota’s growing bioprocessing sector. With its completion, the facility is poised to attract industry leaders, foster collaboration with South Dakota State University, and support new advancements in bio-based technologies.

PARTNERS