Greater St. Louis, Inc. (MO) – Advanced Manufacturing International Horizon Scan: Case Studies & Industry Intelligence
Challenge
Supported by the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC), St. Louis is addressing decades of economic underperformance and population stagnation through a transformative vision for building a dynamic and inclusive advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Led by Greater St. Louis, Inc. (GSL), a regional coalition is operationalizing the STL 2030 Jobs Plan through the St. Louis Tech Triangle—a strategic convergence of the bioscience, geospatial, and advanced manufacturing clusters. Key to this effort is re-orienting legacy strengths toward next-generation technologies while closing locational disparities. To achieve this, the coalition is utilizing a hub-and-spoke model, anchoring a central innovation hub in North St. Louis to catalyze development in disinvested communities and prepare a diverse workforce for high-wage, innovation-intensive sectors across the 15-county bistate region.
Response
In support of BBBRC Phase 2 implementation, GSL engaged TIP to provide an advanced manufacturing international horizon scan and industry intelligence. The process included facilitated meetings with the Advanced Manufacturing Core Team and partners like Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis (AMICSTL) to align outputs with broader cluster development efforts. Case studies of seven global regions—Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Detroit, Michigan; Durham, North Carolina; Wichita, Kansas; Sheffield, England; and Ulsan, Republic of Korea—highlighted structural patterns for advanced manufacturing success. Parallel to this research, TIP analyzed six critical industry sectors—biosciences, aerospace and defense, EV supply chain, critical materials, geospatial intelligence, and food and beverage technology—using a proprietary methodology to evaluate market anchors and supply chain strengths. TIP also delivered a separate data visualization of SBIR/STTR funding for St. Louis-based advanced manufacturing firms to track innovation investment. The final technical report synthesized findings into nine structural commitments essential for a resilient ecosystem, ranging from demand-driven workforce systems to proactive site readiness. By providing a clear framework for retooling industrial assets, this work sought to empower the coalition to steward resources effectively and transform the St. Louis metro into a global leader for next-generation technology and broad-based prosperity.