NU CONNECTIONS GIVES ENTREPRENEURS, BUSINESSES ACCESS TO VALUABLE UNIVERSITY-WIDE RESOURCES

The NU Connections program unites the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center to promote programs, services, and resources that Nebraska businesses can utilize to grow and diversify.

Administered by the NBDC at UNO, NU Connections provides access to startup assistance, laboratory and facility use, research and technology development, market research, and other services. NU Connections is a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center program.

“The university system has a wealth of resources that can further economic development in the state, but for many entrepreneurs and small business owners, reaching out to the university can be very daunting,” Lang says. “They don’t know who to call or even where to begin.

“NU Connections opens the doors to the university though the program’s liaison officers. Because they are extremely knowledgeable about each campus, these liaisons will identify the right resource and facilitate a connection.”

The Industry Liaison Officers are Deanna Marcelino at UNO, Michael Dixon, Ph.D. at UNMC, Robert Macy, Ph.D. at UNK and Ryan Anderson at UNL. The program has worked on many projects.

When a small business in Kearney needed electrical engineering expertise for a manufacturing issue the business encountered, Anderson linked the company with a faculty researcher’s expertise at the UNL College of Engineering to help solve the problem.