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GO Topeka announces plans to develop large-scale animal health innovation campus

Developers will soon begin testing the viability of two sites that could house a planned innovation district in Topeka.

An economic development group called GO Topeka has announced plans to develop a large-scale animal health innovation campus in Kansas’ capital city.

Two national real estate developers, Clark Enersen Partners and BioRealty, Inc., have been chosen to identify and evaluate prospective locations, reports Markets Insider. Initial findings will be presented this winter.

Development of the campus includes making it the home to Plug and Play’s Animal Health / Ag Tech Startup Accelerator program, as well as research and development labs and office spaces for startups and corporate innovation partners, according to Markets Insider.

“Once we secured the Plug and Play Animal Health/Ag Tech Startup Accelerator program, it became our responsibility to devise a long-term strategy that supports the infrastructure of Topeka’s innovation scene,” Katrin Bridges, senior vice president of innovation with the Greater Topeka Partnership said. “This means finding the best setting to develop our innovation campus.”

Plug and Play selected Topeka for its first Animal Health and Ag Tech Accelerator Program in August 2019, reports Markets Insider. Topeka is centrally located within the KC Animal Health Corridor, home to more than 300 animal health companies, representing the largest concentration in the world

“Plug and Play is excited to see Topeka moving forward on building their innovation campus,” Stephen Fay, director of corporate partnerships at Plug and Play said. “Startups thrive when communities provide intentional space for coworking and collaboration. Topeka’s commitment to pursue this concept is precisely why we chose to partner with them, and we are excited to watch this project develop.”

Enersen Partners and BioRealty are known nationally for their work in developing state-of-the-art scientific research facilities according to Markets Insider, and have said that as part of their assessment they will perform initial planning for two different site options and identify the key economic drivers and key elements necessary for a successful project.