Where Innovation Connects: Inside KU Innovation Park’s Collaborative Impact

Innovation does not happen in silos and nowhere is that clearer than at the KU Innovation Park. Nestled on KU’s West Campus in Lawrence, this vibrant ecosystem brings together industry, academic research, public entities, and entrepreneurial energy to build a resilient, inclusive, and thriving regional economy.

At its core, KU Innovation Park exists to bridge the gap from lab discoveries to real-world impact. It provides flexible office and lab spaces, specialized business services, and commercialization support to help startups and researchers move their innovations forward. Programs like the Lab2Market Accelerator are helping KU-affiliated researchers launch market-ready companies, with cohorts from across the region working for six months to commercialize their discoveries.

The Park hosts a remarkable mix of companies including bioscience startups, growing firms, industry partners, and government agencies, all benefiting from proximity to KU’s talent and research. Among these are ventures like InnovaPrep, which operates its Application Center of Excellence on-site, developing diagnostic technologies aimed at making medicine faster and less invasive. The Student Business Analyst Program integrates KU students directly into this ecosystem. Participants, who come from disciplines ranging from engineering to law, serve startups and Park operations through real-world consulting, business modeling, research, and strategic projects.

What began as a collaborative effort to support bioscience startups has grown into a major economic engine for Douglas County. A new study by global analytics firm Lightcast shows that KU Innovation Park generated $136.5 million in income for the county between July 2022 and June 2023 - about 2.5% of the region’s total gross product. Park activity supported 1,015 local jobs (one out of every 73) and contributed more than $461,000 in county tax revenue, with Park companies also securing over $7 million in federal funding for breakthroughs in vaccine development, medicine delivery, and disease testing.

The KU Innovation Park exemplifies the power of sustained, multi-sector collaboration. Academia fuels innovation and talent. Industry brings commercialization and scale. Government unlocks infrastructure, capital, and public mission. Together, they are crafting high-wage jobs, groundbreaking technologies, and opportunities for students and innovators, positioning Kansas as a national hub for research-driven economic transformation.

For the OnRamp Hub: Kansas, this profile underscores how impactful regional partnerships can be and how important it is to continue bridging sectors for shared success.

Learn More: https://kuinnovationpark.com/