by Charles Litton, UNeMed

LINCOLN, Neb. (Feb. 3, 2016)—UNeMed president and CEO Michael Dixon testified before Nebraska’s Executive Board of the Legislative Council Tuesday in favor of two bills currently before Nebraska’s 104th Legislature.

Both bills deal with promoting, supporting and growing start-up and small businesses in the state. For more details of the hearing, see the Lincoln Journal-Star’s coverage here.

The Executive Board opened its afternoon committee hearing with the introduction of LB987 from State Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln. The bill calls for the creation of a steering committee to study Nebraska’s bioscience economy, and proposes to create a strategy for continued growth, development and commercialization of Nebraska discoveries and innovations.

The bill adds to similar economic development measures, such as the Talent & Innovation Initiative, which includes the Business Innovation Act. Those measures have dramatically improved Nebraska’s biotech business climate in recent years, but more work can be done, Dixon said.

“It’s crucial that we not rest on our laurels and become complacent,” he told the committee.

The bill would require the committee to produce its report before the close of the first 105th legislative session next year.

Dixon, who testified on behalf of the University of Nebraska, concluded his remarks to the committee: “At UNMC we have a stand. We lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future through extraordinary care, discovery and learning.

“When we take that stand, it means we don’t rest until we transform lives and have a significant impact on health. It isn’t just about getting grants or publishing papers or training students.

“To accomplish that stand we are driven to develop our discoveries and to make sure they have a significant impact not only on the health of all Nebraskans, but the world.”

Dixon also later testified before the same committee in favor of LB1083, the Next Generation Business Growth Act.

The Next Generation Business Growth Act, introduced by Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg, would create a Venture Development and Innovation Task Force that will “develop a statewide strategic plan to cultivate a climate of entrepreneurship and innovation.” The task force would study and review current and previous state programs, outline best practices in other states and perform an economic impact analysis of the Business Innovation Act.

Dixon’s testimony was related to his role as Chair of the Board for Invest Nebraska Corporation, the state’s public-private venture capital entity.

He is expected to testify again today on behalf of Invest Nebraska before the Appropriations Committee in favor of LB1028, which would extend the term and funding of the Business Innovation Act.