In the heartland of America, an innovation revolution is brewing. St. Louis, a city historically recognized for its legacy industries, has been rising as a formidable player in bioscience and advanced technology breakthroughs. At the epicenter of this transformation is BioSTL, a catalyst for regional innovation that has been pivotal in shaping St. Louis into an engine of progress in bioscience sectors.
One of the most remarkable aspects of St. Louis’s blossoming innovation ecosystem is the pervasive collaborative spirit. This collaborative ecosystem comprises universities, corporate partners, entrepreneurs, investors, government bodies, non-profits that provide resources and services, and philanthropic organizations - all working in concert to turn groundbreaking research into commercial realities. It’s an approach that has seen significant success across the country, but there’s potential to harness that energy and infuse it into commercial sectors in which St. Louis has unique expertise, especially with the backing of influential bodies like the National Science Foundation (NSF).
NSF, an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering across the United States, announced in 2022 a new program – the Regional Innovation Engines program - distinct from their traditional funding pathways. The Engines program was designed to provide catalytic funding needed to drive economic growth in regions that have not fully participated in the technology boom of the past few decades. It places science and technology leadership as the central driver for regional economic competitiveness. With this new program, the agency is particularly interested in funding ecosystems where its investment can bridge existing gaps, catalyzing the transition of scientific discoveries into practical applications that benefit communities to advance critical technologies that address pressing national and societal challenges.
In 2022, Washington University approached BioSTL to co-lead an application, anchored in St. Louis’ world-class strengths in neuroscience. The application for an Engines development grant – a modest amount of funds to assist in planning for a neuroscience Engine efforts - comprised a number of regional partners and was awarded in May 2023. This year, BioSTL is leading efforts to expand the existing partnerships to pursue funding for a full NSF Engine. As a potential recipient of the NSF investment, which could result in funding of up to $160 million over the next ten years (coupled with matching funds) St. Louis' neuroscience engine would receive substantial investment to supercharge current innovation efforts.
“An engine spurs collaboration to advance a specific technology. We act as a center of gravity for convening cross-sector partners to accelerate discovery,” Raymundo explains. “It’s not a building or a center; it’s a coalition working at the intersection of research, the market, and community with many different partners contributing assets and driving innovation from idea to practice.”
In this context, St. Louis is uniquely positioned. The region boasts a strong healthcare infrastructure, a robust scientific community, and a supportive environment for entrepreneurship. These elements create fertile ground for innovations that can address some of the most pressing global challenges.
“Our approach is to build off of the world-class innovation that comes out of universities here and pair it with 20 years of collaboration with corporate partners, governments, and the philanthropic community to galvanize our region around new opportunities,” says Raymundo. “A transformative amount of investment from the NSF would accelerate the work we’re already doing to take everything to a much more mature level.”
St. Louis is making significant strides is neuroscience. With institutions like Washington University leading cutting-edge research, the region is becoming a global hub for innovative discoveries in neuroscience. Yet, moving from discovery to practical application is no small feat.
“St. Louis is central to neuroscience innovation around the world. In that field, it’s historically been challenging to move discovery into products, into startups, into innovative practices that help real patients with real health problems,” Raymundo points out. “You need access to academic institutions, expert industry and entrepreneurial advice to identify and shepherd translation of research into products & services, and investments to translate emerging concepts into reality. St. Louis is an epicenter for that.”
The potential applications of neuroscience innovation are vast, ranging from new treatments for brain tumors and dementia to wearable technology that enhances learning capabilities. This broad scope underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach—one that brings together specialists from various fields to tackle complex problems.
What sets St. Louis apart is not just its individual strengths but the way these elements come together to create an environment where innovation can thrive. This concept, often referred to as “placemaking,” is akin to adding a vital ingredient that makes the sum greater than its parts.
“When I talk to young people, they tell me they are motivated by the opportunity to solve global challenges,” says Raymundo. “What we’re saying is, the opportunity does exist. If you want to work in bioscience innovation, you should know St. Louis is a destination.”
Indeed, the challenges of the future—such as supporting a global population expected to surpass 10 billion by 2050—requires innovative solutions today. NSF funding opportunities encourage regions like St. Louis to leverage their assets into a local discovery engine that contributes to solving these global challenges, in the process creating jobs, enhancing economic opportunities for citiziens across the region, and enhancing the regions overall economic vitality.
One of the greatest challenges in innovation is navigating the so-called “valley of death,” where promising ideas often falter before they can reach the market. BioSTL’s role is crucial in this regard, ensuring the support and infrastructure necessary to guide innovations through this perilous phase.
“A big idea is just the first step in a long road for a technology to actually reach people,” Raymundo notes. “By leveraging our cross-sector strengths, we bring together partners who support that growth at every stage so the innovation keeps advancing to the next milestone.”
This holistic approach ensures that innovations don't just stay on the drawing board but become tangible solutions that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
As St. Louis continues to build its reputation as an innovation hub, the potential for growth and impact is immense. However, achieving this vision requires ongoing support and investment from both local and national stakeholders.
“It’s attracting the right talent at the right time to drive the company forward. Do you have the people you need? Sometimes they need a really senior scientist. Sometimes it's an intern at the bench. Sometimes it’s a salesperson,” says Raymundo. This underscores the importance of building a diverse and skilled workforce that can meet the evolving needs of the innovation landscape.
Ultimately, St. Louis stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together to drive progress. With the right support, this city is not just poised to keep pace but to lead the pack in solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
For people invested in the future of St. Louis, now is the time to rally behind this vision. By supporting initiatives like those spearheaded by BioSTL and advocating for transformative investments from entities like the NSF, we can help ensure that St. Louis continues to shine as a beacon of innovation and opportunity.
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