OMAHA, Nebraska (October 21, 2025)—UNeMed’s 2025 Innovation Week continues this morning with Inventors Grove at 7-8:30 a.m.
Hosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, the 19th annual Innovation Week celebrates and recognizes the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Sponsored by UNeMed and the Nebraska Research Initiative, Inventors Grove is a weekly support group, open to anyone who might have an idea for a new invention but don’t know what comes next. People are encourage to drop in at any time to meet experienced inventors and mentors who will be there to provide guidance, fellowship, support and inspiration to anyone curious about navigating the innovation process.
Innovation Week will continue tomorrow evening with the Innovation Awards at the Scott Conference Center, at 6450 Pine Street. An invitation-only event, the Awards will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received an issued U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year. Special awards for Emerging Inventor, Faculty Entrepreneur, Innovation Champion, Startup of the Year and the Most Promising New Invention of 2025 will also be presented.
Innovation Week will continue Thursday, Oct. 23 with Idea Pub: Startup Showcase at 4-6 p.m. at the Omaha Catalyst Forge Event Hall. Sponsored in partnership with UNeTech Institute and NUTech Ventures, the Startup Showcase will feature several short presentations featuring new companies built around Nebraska innovations in healthcare. The event is open and free to all, but guests are asked to register here.
A panel discussion hosted by the National Institutes of Health is set for Friday, Oct. 24. Five panelists from the NIH will discuss non-dilutive funding opportunities for academic researchers and innovators interested in pursuing the small business grant program. The discussion will be a virtual event, held via Teams. To register go here. Nebraska researchers are also encouraged to pre-book one-on-one meetings with NIH panelists here.
Finally, Innovation Week concludes on Saturday with startup launch party for FamilyRoom.health, a new company built by UNMC nurse, Breanna Hetland, PhD. The party will be at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs at 4-7 p.m. The evening will feature more information about the growing startup company, along with art, music and refreshments. To register and learn more about the launch party, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burden-bloom-tickets-1664576074849.
All events are free and open to the public, but the Awards reception is by invitation only. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.
