Innovation

Companies are attracted to the region’s willingness to work with them and support for new entrepreneurs and innovation.

Organizers expect the dozens of free sessions this week to draw nearly 10,000 attendees.

Zion Cemetery in St. Louis County is using radar technology to identify unmarked burials at the cemetery. The cemetery is also raising funds to erect a memorial to the buried individuals.

The tests consisted of digging holes a few inches deep, and then firing a high-powered laser into those holes that measures specific soil conditions.

“Our goal is to create the preeminent construction innovation district that creates economic opportunities,” said one of the developers.

To keep St. Louis’ existing tech talent, some regional leaders are pushing for more support for startups. But it’s not a quick or easy fix.

In the year since a nonprofit was established to run the innovation district, it’s made strides to build out more real estate and solidify St. Louis’ position as a leader in the plant sciences and agriculture sectors.

Supporters of the legislation say it would help companies with the potential for high growth to more easily access early funding and help keep their innovations rooted in Missouri.

“How do we create conditions where it makes more sense for a company to either stay in St. Louis, or move here, if they want to do something related to agtech?” the innovation district’s executive director said.

The new initiative aims to help Latin American startups in agtech or geospatial land in St. Louis and also help similar companies in St. Louis more easily expand to those international markets.