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.
  5. Indirect cost (Facilities and Administration) shall not be covered using Authority funds and funds spent on these items will not be considered as matching funds for this program.
  6. Authority funds cannot be used for rent, capital costs, or utilities. Funds spent on these items will not be considered matching funds for this program.

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