Kansas Bioscience Matching Fund

The Kansas Bioscience Matching Fund builds research excellence at Kansas’ universities, research institutions, and bioscience companies in ways that will benefit our bioscience economy. Matching funds will be available to match research dollars from federal, private, and other sources of funding.

In addition, funds will be provided to match federal grants for existing bioscience research centers of innovation in the state’s priority technology areas. These matching grants will leverage federal investment in Kansas’ research and development base. Additionally, this program is intended to match federal technology development funds, e.g., SBIR, STTR, etc.

Proposals for federal funds that contain a specific state- or federal-match requirement, for the purposes of this program, shall be limited to a one-time award of up to 50 percent of the annual total amount received by Kansas institutions under the federal grant up to a maximum of $2 million.

This matching program also seeks to leverage federal technology development grants to Kansas-based bioscience companies. This program can match up to 50 percent of an SBIR Phase I award, for a maximum of $50,000; and up to 50 percent of a Phase II award, for a maximum of $375,000.

Program Goals

  • Increase federal peer-reviewed research dollars and industrial investment in Kansas’ research universities;
  • Create academic centers of excellence in line with federal opportunities and our existing high-tech industrial base; and
  • Increase research at Kansas-based bioscience companies in areas critical to supporting our bioscience economy.

Academic Institution Eligibility

Candidates for this program are limited to:

  • All universities and colleges located in the state of Kansas conducting bioscience research.

Company Eligibility

Candidates for this program are limited to:

  • 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.

Key Evaluation Criteria

It is expected that all eligible applicants for matching funds will demonstrate the following goals:

  • Increase federal research funding;
  • Establish a framework for and increase industry-sponsored research;
  • Accelerate commercialization of bioscience innovations; and
  • Contribute to the state’s economy.

Applications under this program must be received and evaluated by the KBA prior to the submission of an application for federal funding. Successful applicants will be given a letter to include in their federal applications committing state matching funds upon successful receipt of the federal award. Provision of matching funds is contingent on final approval of the KBA’s board and the execution of a grant agreement between the applicant and the applicable federal agency.

Matching Fund 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