“Breaking Ground for the Future” is the theme of a ceremonial event and major announcement Nov. 16 on a new level of collaboration between UNL and ConAgra Foods. The collaboration includes expanded research and development projects at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The collaboration will be announced at an event at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 at Van Brunt Visitors Center. A live-streamed video will be available for viewing at http://real.unl.edu/live_3.

The collaboration announcement marks the first commitment from a private-industry tenant at the new campus. The Nebraska Innovation Campus concept was developed in 2007 and became reality on Jan. 1, 2010, when the state transferred the former State Fairgrounds to UNL. The 249-acre tract is designated to be transformed into the public-private research and technology development center.

As the first “tenant,” ConAgra Foods demonstrates NIC’s vision to expand access to commercial markets, expand access to talented people and research capabilities and expand access to talented potential employees.

Nebraska Innovation Campus is governed by a Development Corporation Board and is focused on a campus with 2 million square feet of research and development space. The campus will eventually house as many as 7,000 people working in a collaborative environment. In June 2011, plans were unveiled for four new or renovated buildings representing an estimated $80 million in public and private investments, that includes laboratory, greenhouse, conference and office space in the 280,000 square feet of space to be constructed as part of phase 1 of NIC.

The ConAgra Foods announcement on Nov. 16 will include details of the ways they expect NIC to help build their business and the university by providing the right environment to foster a culture of innovation related to food production. As part of the related activities for Nov. 16, winners of a photo contest will be named, and winners presented iPads for their winning photos.