SaturdayAugust 9, 2025

UI Research Park aims to lure biotech firms with new changes

University officials said current Iowa Research Park ownership and leasing rules were a critical factor in one vaccine manufacturing company deciding to build a $650 million facility in Kansas instead of Johnson County.
By: Noah Tong|June 14, 2023
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    • A map of the University of Iowa Oakdale Research Park and Oakdale Campus. CREDIT BOARD OF REGENTS

    A map of the University of Iowa Oakdale Research Park and Oakdale Campus. CREDIT BOARD OF REGENTS

    The University of Iowa is ending its master lease with the Iowa Board of Regents and the Iowa Research Park Corporation (UIRP) in favor of more appealing terms that could attract biotech and medical research firms.

    Right now, research companies at the Iowa Research Park can only obtain subleases. This makes companies hesitant to operate privately-owned research-based facilities on State of Iowa property, when sublease teams cannot extend past the…

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