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Kansas City region receives federal ‘Tech Hub’ designation

Mayor of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Quinton Lucas is joined by DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, as well as other key stakeholders during the announcement that out of 300+ applications nationwide, Kansas City was selected as one of 31 communities to be designated a Tech Hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS Act.
Mayor of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Quinton Lucas is joined by DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, as well as other key stakeholders during the announcement that out of 300+ applications nationwide, Kansas City was selected as one of 31 communities to be designated a Tech Hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the CHIPS Act.

The KC BioHub coalition, focused on manufacturing vaccine-related biologics, now has the opportunity to receive up to $70 million in funding.

Written by Julie Scheidegger

We like to think one outstanding example of how investment in life sciences can strengthen economic growth in the Kansas City region was Marion Laboratories, founded by Ewing Marion Kauffman in 1950.

Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (KC BioHub), led by BioNexus KC, aims to position eastern Kansas and western Missouri as a global leader in biologics and biomanufacturing.

With the largest concentration of animal health and nutrition companies in the world, KC BioHub will leverage the region’s biotechnology assets and existing vaccine manufacturing facilities, research institutions, and startup ecosystem to strengthen innovation in animal and human vaccine development.

KC BioHub aims to increase overall domestic vaccine production to capture a greater market share of global human vaccine development.

Learn more about BioNexus KC >

The impact of investment in life sciences is felt yet again in the Kansas City region with a federal “tech hub” designation authorized by the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act and awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Announced by the Biden Administration Oct. 23, the region’s Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (KC BioHub) was selected from 387 applications; only 31 cities were designated as “tech hubs” of advanced research and development and innovation.

The region’s biologic ecosystem – including more than 70 organizations representing academia (including all four regional research universities and two-year colleges – University of Kansas, Kansas State University, University of Missouri – Columbia, and University of Missouri – Kansas City, Donnelly College, Metropolitan Community College, and Kansas City Kansas Community College), entrepreneurship, corporations, government, workforce development, and venture capital – now has the opportunity to receive up to $70 million in federal funding.

“Today’s announcement is truly a validation of that vision, a recognition that for inclusive economies to thrive, we need to be intentional – spurring growth not just on the coasts, but also here in the Heartland,” said DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed.D., Kauffman Foundation president and CEO, from the podium during a press conference at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri on Monday. She was joined by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

“Our call to action now is to focus on how we will use this investment to create economic mobility for Kansas City; creating pathways to meaningful, stable, and well-paying careers, so more people have access to the financial stability that we all deserve,” Dr. Burns-Wallace said.

The Kauffman Foundation’s role in securing the Tech Hubs Program included convening and underwriting this collaborative work. The Foundation seeded a $5 million fund at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, which provides critical matching dollars, which helped make the federal grant application even more competitive.

“This is one way we see our role at Kauffman: serving as a catalyst for collaboration and spurring additional investment in our region,” Dr. Burns-Wallace said. “We do this, and will continue to do this, by listening to our community’s priorities and the community’s needs.”

Years ago, the Kansas City community very intentionally invested in the development of a biologic cluster including existing assets such as the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas, to the MU Research Reactor at the University of Missouri – Columbia, as well as a strong base of biomanufacturing in the animal health sector. The cluster also included the creation of KC BioHub and its coalition.

This milestone of collective impact continues the Foundation’s long-time efforts to work with key leaders in the region to build a prepared workforce aligned with the local and emerging job markets. “We have always believed that through a greater emphasis on economic mobility, we can create a pipeline of students, entrepreneurs, and skilled workers who are ready to tackle anything our region has to face,” Dr. Burns-Wallace said.

What’s next:

  • Kansas City will join the other “Tech Hubs” designees in applying for awards of $40 million to $70 million to grow innovation ecosystems during the course of the next five years.
  • The KC BioHub coalition will continue to develop and refine implementation plans in preparation for its award application.
  • Groups and individuals with an interest in becoming involved in KC BioHub should contact BioNexus KC as it welcomes new members to its coalition.
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