GO Topeka celebrates the opening of Link Innovation Labs, marking a major milestone in Topeka’s growing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Located in the heart of Topeka’s Innovation District, Link Innovation Labs is a 17,000-square-foot hub designed to support startups, researchers, small businesses and industry partners through office space, coworking areas, conference rooms, a dedicated pitch and event space – and a flexible lab facility designed for early-stage animal health and bioscience companies.
The space includes BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories, addressing a growing need for entry-level wet lab capacity for startups advancing alternative proteins, pet therapeutics, herd health technologies and AI-enabled biosecurity solutions.
The facility is positioned as a commercialization on ramp for founders who need compliant lab infrastructure to scale. Notably, seven international biotech startups recently relocated to Topeka through Plug and Play's accelerator, underscoring the region’s international role as a hub for global animal health innovation. With lab space constraints impacting biotech hubs nationwide, the opening reflects a broader push to decentralize life sciences infrastructure and support early-stage R&D beyond the coastal markets.
“Link Innovation Labs represents a bold investment in Topeka’s future,” said Stephanie Moran, SVP of Innovation for the GO Topeka. “This space was designed to help innovators link to the right partners, build strong ideas and businesses and launch the next generation of solutions that will drive economic growth in our region.”
The development of Link Innovation Labs reflects Topeka’s increasing momentum within the Animal Health Corridor and its growing role as a destination for innovation across agtech, biotech and advanced manufacturing.
“Link Innovation Labs is a powerful example of how our community continues to invest in long-term opportunity,” said Molly Howey, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership. “By creating a space where entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders can come together, we are strengthening Topeka’s position as a place where innovation, talent and business thrive.”
Link Innovation Labs is part of GO Topeka’s broader strategy to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, support business formation and expansion, and create high-quality jobs throughout Topeka and Shawnee County.
Link Innovation Labs also features a Pitch Room for competitions, presentations and workshops, in addition to an executive boardroom for meetings and discussions, two conference rooms and a hot‑desk area with space for up to 10 people.