South Dakota’s Biotech Ambitions Expose Stark Need for Real Support, Not Empty Promises

In the race to secure America’s future in cutting-edge technology, South Dakota stands at a crossroads. The newly opened University of South Dakota Discovery District symbolizes hope—a sprawling 80-acre campus dedicated to life science and biotech research after nearly three decades of development. But beneath this promising surface lies a critical question: Is the state truly prepared to compete in a high-stakes industry that directly impacts national security and economic independence? How Can South Dakota Lead Without Committing Real Resources? Biotechnology, which merges biology, engineering, and computer sciences, is now central not only to pharmaceutical innovation but also to defenses...