The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has unveiled a significant boost to its Tech Hub initiative, allocating $210 million in implementation grants to six newly designated centers of excellence. This latest round of funding, stemming from a recent Congressional appropriation, brings the total investment in the program to over $700 million, supporting 18 hubs focused on developing industries and jobs of the future.
In October 2023, the Biden administration initially designated 31 tech hubs across the nation. The six markets receiving the latest grants, ranging from $22 million to $48 million, are first-time recipients of implementation funds. Each hub has demonstrated a compelling case for targeted investment to advance critical technologies crucial to American economic and national security, according to a Commerce Department statement.
This new wave of awards is made possible by fresh appropriations from the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA includes a provision that could potentially inject up to $280 million in additional funding into the Tech Hubs program over the coming years, further solidifying the government's commitment to technological innovation and economic growth.
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The six newly funded tech hubs span diverse geographical locations and technological focuses. In Washington and Idaho, the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Tech Hub, led by the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center, received a $48 million grant to advance aerospace materials manufacturing. Alabama's Birmingham Biotechnology Hub, under the leadership of the Southern Research Institute, was awarded $44 million to explore equitable AI-driven biotechnology.
Oregon State University will spearhead the Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub in Oregon, utilizing a $45 million grant to invest in microfluidics research. In Missouri, the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub, led by the University of Missouri System, secured $29 million to focus on critical mineral processing. The Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub in Maine, under the guidance of the Maine Technology Institute, received $22 million to work on sustainable wood biomass polymers.
Lastly, the University of Vermont will lead the Vermont Gallium Nitride Tech Hub, which was granted $23 million to advance research in gallium nitride-based semiconductors.
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Kristen Smithberg
Kristen Smithberg is a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers commercial real estate, insurance, benefits and retirement topics for BenefitsPRO and other industry publications.
