2019
UEL opens new addition with 19,500 additional sq. ft of available innovation space
2018
UEL breaks ground on a new addition
2018
UEL board announces a renewed focus on innovation, and hires a new Executive Director, Diane Rucker
2017
University of Minnesota Genomics Center opens at UEL
2011
UEL rebrands the incubator, and welcomes Ewald Consulting, Prism Research, and the Eye Bank (now Lions’ Gift of Sight)
2009
Office for Technology Commercialization at University of Minnesota relocates to UEL
2007
UEL is 92% occupied with a waiting list for space
2005
University Enterprise Laboratories opens 125,000 sq.ft. of space, including 21 wet labs for life science companies
2004
Identification of site at 1000 Westgate Drive, and renovations to create atrium, lab, office, and conference space
2003
Development of the idea and fundraising for an independent incubator for new businesses
2002
Warehouse is decommissioned, and City of St. Paul seeks a partner to develop the site.
1991
Site built as a distribution center for Target Stores.
The original vision for University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) came from Dr. Robert (Bob) Elde, who served as the dean of the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences. He noted that a growing number of early-stage bioscience companies were struggling to commercialize research. There simply wasn’t a space in the Twin Cities with affordable and available lab facilities where they could develop the technology for a new business.
UEL was established as a nonprofit, public-private partnership in 2004. A former distribution center for Target proved to be an ideal home for the incubator, conveniently located off I-94 and MN-280 near both Minneapolis and St. Paul. The renovation created 21 new wet labs surrounding the main atrium, conference space, and office space for startups and growing companies.
Since its start, UEL has hosted many companies who needed space and support. The resident companies at UEL are innovative, research-based, technologically sophisticated, and entrepreneurial – precisely the kind of businesses that will help Minnesota’s bioscience cluster to grow.
University Enterprise Laboratories does not receive direct support from the University of Minnesota. It was organized as a separate legal entity.
1000 Westgate Drive