Kansas Bioscience R&D Voucher Program

The Kansas R&D Voucher Program provides funding to Kansas bioscience companies, in partnership with a Kansas research university, company, or institution, for proof-of-concept research and development activities and ancillary activities necessary to commercialize bioscience technologies. This program is designed to provide early-stage financing and commercialization support for high-potential but high-risk innovations.

The maximum amount of voucher funds awarded to a lead company shall not exceed $1 million each year for two years, equal to a maximum of $2 million, and shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the research. Companies are encouraged to partner with Kansas degree-granting universities or colleges or with any company or institution with substantial business operations in Kansas.

Program Goals

  • Grow successful technology businesses in Kansas;
  • Grow jobs in Kansas;
  • Increase the value of intellectual property owned by Kansas bioscience companies;
  • Promote collaboration between Kansas bioscience companies and Kansas research universities or institutions;
  • Provide early-stage financing and commercialization support for Kansas bioscience companies;
  • Advance companies to the point that they are eligible for lower-risk financing and loans;
  • Increase corporate and venture capital investment in Kansas bioscience companies.

Eligibility

Lead Company Eligibility

  • Kansas-based bioscience company in one of the following North American Industry Classification System codes: 325411, 325412, 325413, 325414, 325193, 325199, 325311, 32532, 334516, 339111, 339112, 339113, 334510, 334517, 339115, 621511, 621512, 541710, 541380, 541940, 622110
  • 75 percent of employees work in Kansas
  • Minimum of one full-time employee
  • The management team or working founders must have a minimum of $25,000 aggregate cash investment in the company.
  • The applicant’s primary business is the provision of a bioscience process, product or service and the applicant owns, has filed for, or has a license to use protected, proprietary intellectual property.
  • Company may not be a home-based operation.

Partner Eligibility

  • All Kansas universities or colleges
  • Companies or institutions with primary business location in Kansas

Key Evaluation Criteria

  1. Technical merit of technology and background science;
  2. Sound business plan and business model;
  3. Degree to which the project results in job growth (company growth) in Kansas; and
  4. Degree to which the project establishes a working relationship between the applicant company and the partner university, company or institution.

R&D Voucher Application

“We have some very exciting life sciences companies in various stages of development here in our region, and with support from the Kansas Bioscience Authority, we have a much better opportunity to be successful and to grow and retain them here.”

- Sam Campbell, Co-founder, CritiTech