GO Topeka, the economic development group for Kansas’ Capitol City, announced plans to develop a large-scale animal health innovation campus. The development will be home to Plug and Play’s Animal Health / Ag Tech Startup Accelerator program, as well as research and development labs and office spaces for startups and corporate innovation partners.
National real estate developers with expertise developing scientific research parks, Clark Enersen Partners and BioRealty, Inc., have been selected to identify and evaluate prospective locations. Initial findings will be presented this winter.
“Once we secured the Plug and Play Animal Health/Ag Tech Startup Accelerator program, it became our responsibility to devise a long-term strategy that supports the infrastructure of Topeka’s innovation scene; this means finding the best setting to develop our innovation campus,” said Katrin Bridges, senior vice president of innovation, Greater Topeka Partnership.
In August 2019, Plug and Play selected Topeka for its first Animal Health and Ag Tech Accelerator Program. Topeka is centrally located within the KC Animal Health Corridor, home to more than 300 animal health companies, representing the largest concentration in the world
"Plug and Play is excited to see Topeka moving forward on building their innovation campus,” said Stephen Fay, director of corporate partnerships, Plug and Play. “Startups thrive when communities provide intentional space for coworking and collaboration. Topeka's commitment to pursue this concept is precisely why we chose to partner with them, and we are excited to watch this project develop.”
Contracted real estate developers for this project are Clark Enersen Partners and BioRealty, Inc. Both developers are nationally renowned for their work in developing state-of-the-art scientific research facilities.
“We will draw on a collective portfolio that includes Nebraska Innovation Campus, University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Park, University of Nebraska – Kearney, South Dakota State University Innovation Campus and EnterpriseWorks @ University of Illinois Research Park for sound framework and a tailored approach,” said Tom McVey, director of business development, Clark Enersen Partners.
“As part of its assessment, our team will perform initial planning for two different site options and identify the key economic drivers and key elements necessary for a successful project of this type based on the current market demand in the region,” said Stan Wendzel, president of BioRealty, Inc., a leading life science real estate investment and development firm.
For more information, contact Bob Ross at Bob.Ross@topekapartnership.com.