The KU University Center is a collaborative effort led by the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas. It is funded by a University Center Program grant from the Economic Development Administration with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

About

The KU University Center (UC) utilizes university assets to strengthen innovation and competitiveness in Kansas and the Midwest through unique and pragmatic programs in entrepreneurship, the biosciences, and technology. The KU UC leverages the university’s unique assets—faculty and staff expertise, student manpower, and informational resources, including GIS—to capitalize on economic enhancement opportunities. Specifically, the KU UC combines the innovation, information, and policy resources of IPSR within KU’s Office of Research to create and deliver unique economic development programs. The UC recognizes the advantages of collaboration and the opportunity for increased impact in its economic development mission by working with a wide range of university, local, state, regional, and national organizations.

Learn how the #EDAUnivCenters program at the University of Kansas has helped to improve economic conditions in Kansas and the Midwest.

Activities

RedTire, LLC Addresses business shuttering in the rural Midwest by matching retiring business owners with successors from Kansas and other key colleges in the region.	CURE utilizes Startup School@KU to help entrepreneurs navigate the specific business issues unique to the life sciences industry.	The Catalyst The Catalyst is a business accelerator that provides student entrepreneurs with resources critical to success, including access to resources with the KU Innovation Park.
Kansas Regional Data Portal Data portal that assists Kansas regions with their CEDs and other economic development decision-making and planning.	Kansas State Data Center IPSR is the SDC lead agency for Kansas. The SDC Program is on the U.S. Census Bureau’s longest and most successful partnerships.	Other Data Resources Kansas Data Kansas Statistical Abstract ResourceNet County Profiles Kansas Data

Contact Information

Wallace W. Meyer, Jr. Director, University Center and Senior Research Associate Institute for Policy & Social Research 1541 Lilac Lane, 607 Blake Hall Lawrence, Kansas 66045-3129 (785) 864-7583 wmeyerjr@ku.edu

Genna Hurd Associate Researcher Institute for Policy & Social Research 1541 Lilac Lane, 607 Blake Hall Lawrence, Kansas 66045-3129 (785) 864-4618 ghurd@ku.edu