Innovative Technologies

The Hotspot for Tech Careers

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Kansas is at the forefront of embracing innovative technologies. The state has emerged as one of the top five in the nation for wind energy capacity, with more than 8,000 MW in capacity. Close to 40,000 are employed in clean energy jobs statewide, servicing Kansas-based companies like IKEA, with its one-megawatt solar power project in Merriam, and Aldi, with its two-megawatt solar power facility in Olathe. Find even more confidence in your career with higher education institutions throughout the state that provide grounded expertise for in-demand jobs such as photovoltaic installation and nacelle fabrication.

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Facts & Rankings

#4

States With Total Wind Energy Generation

Department of Energy, 2023

5,000+

Nacelles for Wind Turbines Produced by Siemens Gamesa in Hutchinson, KS

Kansas Department of Commerce

Nearly 5,000

Employed at Garmin in the Kansas City Metro Area

Garmin, 2024

2

Companies in Kansas named America’s Most Innovative in 2023

Forbes, 2024

Major Innovative Technologies Companies in Kansas

From wind turbines to GPS, technology companies in Kansas are the source of an abundance of innovative jobs.

Siemens Gamesa

JR Custom Metal Fabrication

Garmin

Panasonic

DSM

Pinnacle Aerospace

Amber Wave

Integra

Sealed With a

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“I grew up in Independence, KS, and attended Tabor College. I completed my PhD in Computer Science at the University of Kansas. After working at Sprint and Bethel College, I taught for fifteen years at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where I helped many students launch software businesses. In 2020 I received a call from the Tabor College Chair of the Board of Directors, inviting me to apply to be President at Tabor College. I returned in 2021. One of my efforts has been launching the Central Kansas Entrepreneurship Center at Tabor College. We recently were awarded $2.86 million in federal appropriations to help us build a ~$10 million business and entrepreneurship center at Tabor College. We have students from 39 states and 28 countries. Many of them are involved in launching companies, some of which will stay in Kansas.”

David Janzen, Ph.D.

David Janzen, Ph.D. Tabor College Hillsboro

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After graduating from K-State, my wife and I moved to California. Years later, we returned to Kansas for a better place to build both our careers and our family. We’ve found immense happiness and opportunity here, both personally and professionally. I’m proud to give back to our community through local school volunteering and engagement with business organizations.

Joshua Wetzig

Joshua Wetzig DLR Group Overland Park

A Higher Education for Grounded Careers

Find excellent opportunities in Kansas for higher education in the field of renewable energy and innovative technologies. Johnson Community College provides specialized instruction in electrical technology, paving the way for a position in Kansas’ expansive renewable energy industry. Looking to feel the electricity of a career in integrated circuitry? Kansas State University offers a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering that equips graduates with the knowledge to design and manufacture the technologies of the future.

Future-Forward Technologies

Technology companies in Kansas are a big part of the new Kansas economy. With over four decades of experience in wind turbine manufacturing and design, Siemens Gamesa has played a crucial role in advancing sustainable energy solutions. Additionally, Garmin stands as a prominent player in the state, manufacturing its renowned navigational systems and devices in Olathe since 1996. The recent $200 million expansion of Garmin’s warehouse manufacturing facility in Olathe, KS demonstrates their commitment to growing their already 4,600+ strong workforce and driving tech advancement in the Sunflower State.