The Biden-Harris administration, through the Department of Commerce’s (DoC) Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced the designation of 31 technology hubs across the country as part of the first phase of the new Tech Hubs program.
The Tech Hubs program – authorized as part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act – aims to develop clusters of businesses, communities, higher education institutions, and workers focused on accelerating innovation and technology deployment across America.
The hubs announced today are located across 32 states and Puerto Rico, representing a cross-section of urban and rural regions. The winners were selected from over 370 applications from regional consortia. They focus on industries ranging from quantum computing, artificial intelligence, to semiconductor manufacturing.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is rooted in policies that will empower the United States to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. Our Tech Hubs Program is fundamental to that mission and will supercharge innovation across the nation by spurring cutting-edge technological investments and creating 21st-century job opportunities in people’s backyards,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
“Each of these consortia will help us ensure the industries of the future – and their good-paying jobs – start, grow, and remain in the United States,” she added.
Along with the 31 Tech Hubs, EDA also awarded 29 Strategy Development Grants (SDG) to help communities “significantly increase local coordination and planning activities,” the agency said in a press release. These grants also better set up these communities for future Tech Hubs funding opportunities.
DoC launched its first Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its Tech Hubs program in May, inviting applicants to apply for some of the $500 million available. Today’s designated winners received planning grants to accelerate their tech development.
DoC announced it launched its second NOFO today, which now invites the winners to apply for strategy implementation funding to help them reach their full potential. It allows the Tech Hubs to apply for between $40 million and $70 million each for implementation funding, totaling nearly $500 million.
A DoC official told reporters in May that they expect approximately five to 10 winners for the second phase of the program.
“The phase one designees and grant recipients reflect the diverse technological industries growing here at home and are symbols of American innovation and opportunity,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. “The Tech Hubs program will provide them tools and resources to drive economic growth across the nation, which Americans will feel for generations to come.”
The CHIPS and Science Act authorized $10 billion for the Tech Hubs. In December 2022, President Biden signed the fiscal year 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act into law, providing $500 million for the program.
“These Tech Hubs will be transformational, and they’re part of a long line of transformational investments we’ve made since I took office,” President Biden said today during a press briefing. “As a result, I truly believe this country is about to take off because for the first time in a long time, we’re investing in America, and we’re investing in American people. We’re investing in our future. I can honestly say I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s future.”
Some of today’s designees include the Baltimore Tech Hub – led by the Greater Baltimore Committee – which aims to develop innovative predictive healthcare technologies by applying AI to biotechnologies, and The Bloch Tech Hub – led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange – which seeks to lead quantum computing solutions.
Check out the EDA website for a complete list of today’s Tech Hubs designees and SDG recipients.
