Archived Awards Content
Awards issued prior to 2025 represent actions taken during previous administrations and do not necessarily reflect current investment priorities.
BioSTL
The Center for Defense Medicine
St. Louis, MO
Venture Challenge
Federal Share: $1,500,000
Local Match: $1,837,602
The Center for Defense Medicine, as formalized through this Venture Challenge, will accelerate the path to market for early-stage defense medicine technologies by evaluating, de-risking, and advancing commercial viability – yielding stable, high-growth ventures that catalyze economic growth. The Center represents a scaling of BioSTL’s robust Proof of Concept/Commercialization Center programs by tapping into defense demand to diversify the risk profile of early-stage technology commercialization through inherent aspects of defense medicine markets: large awards of non-dilutive funding to substantially de-risk product development; a significant, regular customer in the Department of Defense (DOD) itself; and global demand from the defense industry. The Center will leverage St. Louis’ unique strengths as a global center for bioscience R&D; an untapped wealth of military-relevant medical technologies; and staff relationships with DOD.
The Center will: 1) source innovation by raising awareness in St. Louis of defense-related demand and through connections to DOD decision-makers; 2) fund milestone-based proof of concept plans to advance technology readiness; 3) support business creation through business model development and financial modeling; and 4) counsel companies that solicit external funding from non-dilutive grant and contract sources.
The $1.5 million grant from EDA will be leveraged by a $1.8 million cash match from BioSTL. Funds will support personnel and contractor costs related to 1-on-1 counseling; building networks with DOD personnel; and executing proof of concept projects. Anticipated outcomes include 120 jobs created and $60 million in additional funding/revenue during the Project Period and 438 jobs and $219 million in funding/revenue over the reporting period.