K-State awarded Kansas Department of Commerce grant to boost statewide innovation and entrepreneurship
Monday, Nov. 4, 2024
Kansas State University has received the Kansas Department of Commerce FORGE grant to grow corporate engagement and economic development in the state. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Commerce has awarded Kansas State University the Forging Opportunities for Research, Growth and Entrepreneurship, or FORGE, program grant to support K-State's innovative efforts to create new economic activity across Kansas.
K-State will utilize the $500,000 matching grant to bridge the gap between academia and industry. By leveraging university research and resources, the grant will help create new wealth in Kansas and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship statewide.
"Last year, K-State added $2.3 billion into the state's economy," said Marshall Stewart, executive vice president for external engagement and chief of staff. "This grant will allow us to elevate our ongoing efforts to strengthen the university's approach to technology transfer, commercialization and corporate engagement, and that number will only continue to grow. We are incredibly grateful to the Kansas Department of Commerce for their support and joint commitment to the people of Kansas."
The university’s plan for this pilot grant is divided into three parts:
• Establishing a new corporate engagement and economic development front door
• Formulating a database and resource guide for current Kansas companies
• Creating a new virtual front door to connect businesses with university resources
This project directly supports K-State's Economic Prosperity Plan, which aims to bring 3,000 new jobs and $3 billion in direct investment to the state of Kansas by 2029, as well as its Next-Gen K-State strategic plan.
It also aligns with the Building a Future: Kansas Board of Regents Strategic Plan for Kansas and the Kansas Department of Commerce's Kansas Framework for Growth.
