The Center for Innovation at the University of North Dakota was among the first entrepreneur outreach centers in the nation when formed in 1984. The Center provides assistance to innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers to launch new ventures, commercialize new technologies, and secure access to capital from private and public sources.

The Center manages two tech incubators in the UND Tech Park, provides SBIR outreach to the state's tech community, and has formed three angel networks in Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck. It is also home to the only student managed venture fund in the nation where students make the actual investment decisions, Dakota Venture Group. The Center has fostered over 400 startups, which employs more than 4000 people and have attracted over $110 M in investment. The Center was named a Center for Excellence in Economic Development in 2003 while securing funds for the $4.2 M Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center.