Located in the heart of the Western United States, Las Vegas provides convenient access to nearby markets and offers several state and local tax incentives. There is also ample opportunity for partnerships within the community. Las Vegas has a strong backbone of biotech research through the region’s higher education institutions, including UNLV, a R1 research university, but also Touro University and Roseman University of Health Sciences. Named the best city in America for pre-IPO startups in 2023, the region also has a burgeoning tech scene.
Southern Nevada is rapidly transforming into a hub for life sciences, diagnostics, biotech, and advanced healthcare. To meet the rising demands for locating businesses and institutions to support this sector, the city of Las Vegas and its partners are investing in infrastructure to attract new talent and development. The City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency launched the BioHealth Innovation Challenge on Aug. 12, 2025. This challenge invites game-changing proposals to develop and operate a biosciences incubator lab in Las Vegas. One transformative project will receive up to $10 million.
Join Us
The BioHealth Innovation Challenge welcomes eligible applicants from around the world to submit innovative proposals for the development and operation of a biosciences incubator lab in Las Vegas, establishing a sustained operation that provides meaningful benefits to the local community. All proposed projects must serve and benefit communities in Las Vegas, Nevada. Proposed projects must be located in a Redevelopment Area, as defined by the City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency, with preference for a location in or near the Las Vegas Medical District. Be sure to review the Rules and application requirements to learn more. You are encouraged to use our readiness tool to help determine your fit and eligibility for the challenge.
The City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency identified key project areas with which proposals should align:
- Artificial Intelligence and Technology Integration
- Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs
- Data Science and Health Informatics
- Ethics and Environmental Biotechnology
- Genomics and Genetic Engineering
- Intensive Rehabilitation Equipment and Protocols
- Medical Devices and Diagnostics
- Microbiome and Public Health
- Nanotechnology and Biomaterials
- Neurological Research & Rehabilitation
- Next Generation Sequencing
- Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering
- Therapeutics and Biopharmaceuticals
"The BioHealth Innovation Challenge represents a bold step forward in positioning Las Vegas as a national leader in biosciences and innovation. By expanding laboratory infrastructure and attracting cutting-edge research and development, the city is creating the conditions for new industries to thrive, new talent to stay, and groundbreaking solutions to emerge. The BioHealth Innovation Challenge is about an investment in the health and economic future of Las Vegas."
Evaluation
Strong applications for the BioHealth Innovation Challenge will meet the four criteria outlined in the scoring rubric:
- TRANSFORMATIVE. Does the proposed project have the impact, vision, and scale of opportunity to develop and operate a biosciences incubator lab? How game-changing and innovative is the project for the Las Vegas community, both in the short and long term?
- COMMUNITY-ALIGNED. Does the team have the experience and knowledge to successfully implement the proposed project? Does the proposal address community and stakeholder needs, engaging them in an ongoing, inclusive way to ensure long-term impact?
- FEASIBLE. Does the project demonstrate a strong business model with a high likelihood of success? Is there clear understanding of local conditions and regulations, with the plan, resources and capacity to mitigate risk, launch successfully, and sustain operations?
- COLLABORATIVE. Does the team incorporate partners (organizations and/or stakeholders) who can help advance the proposed project? Does the team connect to other experts who can support the ongoing success of the project?
Be sure to review the submission requirements and scoring criteria to understand how you can submit a competitive application. We look forward to reviewing your innovative proposal to develop and operate a biosciences incubator lab in Las Vegas.
