News – NSF I-Corps Hub Great Plains

KU Faculty Lead, Lisa Friis, Named NAI Senior Member

March 20, 2026

Elizabeth “Lisa” Friis, professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering at the University of Kansas, and faculty lead for the NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub, has been named a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This distinction recognizes emerging academic inventors whose work has demonstrated impact through patents, commercialization, and technology development. Source: KU News Friis was

University of North Dakota Leads $20 Million Federal Initiative to Transform Diabetes Care for Seniors

February 10, 2026

The University of North Dakota has secured a major federal investment of up to $19.9 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to lead a transformative national initiative aimed at improving diabetes care for older adults. The multi-year award includes up to $16.9 million in federal funding, along with $3 million in industry matching support, positioning UND

UND I-Corps Team Selected for VentureWell’s 2026 E-Team Program

December 30, 2025

Neuroclear Pro Park, a student innovation team from the University of North Dakota, has been selected to join the Winter 2026 cohort of VentureWell’s competitive E-Team Program. Only twenty-two student ventures nationwide were chosen for this cohort, representing emerging technologies aimed at improving healthcare, sustainability, information technology, and other critical sectors. Neuroclear Pro Park is developing a continuous-monitoring wearable designed

NSF Great Plains I-Corps Director Recognized Nationally for Innovation

December 11, 2025

Dr. Chad Ulven, NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub Director, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the organization’s highest professional distinction for academic inventors. Ulven will be among 169 new NAI Fellows elected this year. Source: NDSU News The NAI Fellows Program honors inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation through outstanding inventions that

SDSU’s NASA Victory Fueled by Customer Discovery

November 25, 2025

A student team from South Dakota State University is gaining national attention after taking first place in NASA’s 2025 Gateways to Blue Skies competition; an achievement shaped in part by their experience in the NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub program. The annual competition invites university teams to envision future-focused aviation solutions. This year’s theme, AgAir: Aviation Solutions for Agriculture, challenged

Great Plains I-Corps Wraps First-Ever Discovery 60 Cohort

August 28, 2025

The NSF Great Plains I-Corps Hub has officially wrapped up its first Discovery 60 cohort, an intensive eight-week program designed to help researchers and entrepreneurs refine their business models, get to know their potential customers, and move closer toward commercialization. Discovery 60 builds upon participants’ earlier I-Corps experience by requiring 60+ customer discovery interviews, which is 3 times the number

South Dakota Mines Professor Revolutionizes Body’s Wound Healing Capabilities

January 7, 2025

Source: SDM News As early as six months after birth, the human body decreases its hyaluronic acid (HA) expression significantly – a vital molecule that supports tissue structure and regulates cell growth and movement. Found throughout the body, including brain, eyes, joints and skin, HA provides essential lubrication, mechanical support and hydration; however, its decline with age increases the risks

2024 Year in Review

January 2, 2025

The Great Plains Hub celebrated its second year in 2024, marked by exponential growth and significant milestones. The Hub expanded the number of cohorts offered compared to its inaugural year and hosted its first National I-Corps Program. Additionally, the Hub welcomed the University of Montana as a new partner institution, and connected with three potential institutional partners, with formal partnerships

Using AI to Build Better Thinkers

December 11, 2024

UNO researchers are leading a National Science Foundation-backed project to elevate critical thinking and problem-solving skills for students in STEM fields. Source: UNO News University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) STEM TRAIL Center Research Director Tracie Reding, Ed.D., has received a $400,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant for a project called INSIGHTS, which uses AI-powered learning analytics dashboards to improve higher-order

The Success of I-Corps Innovation Week

September 26, 2024

Celebrating I-Corps Innovation Week Our first I-Corps Innovation Week was a big success, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and educators across the Great Plains. The week-long event series offered opportunities to collaborate, learn, and showcase exciting new ideas. Through hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and plenty of networking, participants got practical advice and built connections to push their ventures forward. Innovation Week