GOKIZ

Welcome to Pittsburgh's Greater Oakland Keystone Innovation Zone (GO KIZ), where amazing science, innovation development, creativity and entrepreneurship strategically converge into a thriving and dynamic business environment.

Participate in this regional economic development initiative and tap into diverse portfolios of emerging new technologies, local economic development assistance, start-up funding, available tax credits -- and some of world's most brilliant scientists, students and entrepreneurs.

Part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's (DCED) state-wide economic development funding initiative, the GO KIZ exists to leverage innovations developed at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in the establishment, relocation and growth of technology-based companies in this specially designated geographic zone.

The DCED further supports this local KIZ with innovation development/commercialization grants, "Starter Kit" grants to spawn new research endeavors, and a tax credit program for young companies within the GO KIZ.

The GO KIZ focuses on the following target industries:

• advanced materials, including specialty chemicals
• life sciences
• information technology, including robotics
• "horizon" technologies, including nanotechnology and MEMS
• energy related technology

In addition, the efforts of the GO KIZ targets companies under 8 years old that either are located within the GO KIZ boundaries or are looking to relocate within this geographic zone to take advantage of the close proximity to both participating research universities and UPMC, which is considered one of the world's largest medical centers.