Innovation Studio

The Innovation Studio is a hub of advanced product design, technology, and business innovation.

The Innovation Studio is housed within a new facility – the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise and Research Center – which opened in 2021.

See How We Impact Our Community

Our Capabilities

Augmented and Virtual Reality

Experience the newest augmented and virtual reality tech in our AVR Showroom.
Learn 3D design and development software in the AVR Training Lab.
Design and test applications for any industry.

3D Printing Lab

Prototype your own custom modeled parts.
Print realistic, production-quality models.
Utilize full-color and texture capabilities.
Experiment with metal, polymer, elastomer, and thermoplastic printers.

Fabrication Shop

Build prototypes, class work, and entrepreneurial projects.
Access tools — big and small — all in one place.
Shop includes CNC machines, mills, routers, lathes, and more.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Plaster Center

KC Stem Alliance

The partnership with the Innovation Studio gives opportunity for high school STEM teachers and students to expand their access to innovation tools and equipment for real-world learning projects.

3D HQ

At 3DHQ, we strive to be the headquarters for everything 3D from 3D photography, 3D design, 3D scanning, rapid prototyping, 3D print-on-demand, and so much more, so working with UMKC to expand our research and development has been instrumental and we look to continue and grow this extremely valuable relationship.

T-Mobile

FAR UV

The first practical sanitation solution to eradicate infectious disease in occupied settings.

Würth Additive Group

The Würth Additive Group provides metal, composite, and resin 3D printers and materials to UMKC to help expand the Innovation Studio's additive manufacturing capabilities.

Raven 3D

Raven 3D is an additive manufacturing startup in Kansas City that connected with the Innovation Studio's staff for assistance on their cutting-edge 3D printer prototyping efforts.

Full Employment Council

The Full Employment Council and UMKC's School of Science and Engineering's Innovation Studio expand and enhance training opportunities for underserved communities in Kansas City's urban core.

Populous

Populous is a global architecture & design practice focused on creating joyful, communal experiences. In order to communicate a very specific design message, we partnered with UMKC to create 3D printed architectural models on a scale and detail not usually encountered in the additive manufacturing world.

Make48

Make48 and UMKC's Innovation Studio are partnering to run a 48-hour competition where teams are presented with a challenge and tasked to build a physical prototype, create a sales sheet, produce a 1-minute marketing video, and pitch their idea to a panel of judges.

University of Missouri-Kansas city

School of
Science and Engineering

Science and Engineering