Topeka ? Republican lawmakers took the wraps off the centerpiece of their 2004 agenda Tuesday, detailing an economic development plan they said could create 40,000 Kansas jobs by 2015.

The plan envisions small businesses and a major new industry — biosciences research — taking root in Kansas with startup assistance in the form of public and private investment, tax breaks and help in bringing ideas to market.

“Up until now, economic development has been getting Company X to move to space Y,” said Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, who co-authored the plan with Rep. Kenny Wilk, R-Lansing. “We want entrepreneurs in Kansas, and we want entrepreneurship to grow in Kansas.”

Jordan and Wilk discussed the plan at a news conference called by legislative leaders. Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, and House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, have said the plan represents their party’s biggest legislative initiative this year.

Key to the plan is the reinvestment of tax revenue generated by new companies back into the initiative — an estimated $593 million over 11 years, the sponsors said.

The plan proposes establishment of both a Center for Entrepreneurship to help small businesses and a Kansas Bioscience Authority to help stimulate growth in that industry.

Private investors who helped fledgling companies with financing or advice would receive income tax credits equal to 50 percent of their investment of money or services. Also, the new biosciences authority would look for patents that have commercial potential.

The state would spend $300,000 in the upcoming fiscal year to create the new entrepreneurship center and $800,000 to provide seed money for startup small businesses.

In the following years, the state’s commitment would grow as the new initiatives produced new revenue from income and sales taxes — up to $129 million by 2015, the sponsors said.

Jordan and Wilk said the initiative could attract $1 billion in federal and private funds over the next decade and create more than 40,000 jobs.

“The objective we have is set out is nothing more than growing a whole new segment of our economy,” said Wilk, who chairs the House Economic Development Committee. “I think Kansans are ready for some bold initiatives. They’re ready to take some risks.”

Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has proposed her own economic development plan, which also includes creation of a biosciences agency, tax credits for investors and bonds to finance bioscience research.

But members of both parties, including Democratic Lt. Gov. John Moore, agreed Tuesday that Sebelius’ proposals and the GOP plan could complement each other.

“It’s not a competitive situation,” said Moore, who also serves as the state’s secretary of commerce.