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Biden-Harris Administration Launches Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs Competition

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Biden-Harris administration has initiated the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) competition, a program aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth in regions across the country. This initiative, part of the President's Investing in America Agenda, will create tech hubs by bringing together industry, higher education institutions, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners. The program will focus on the 10 Key Focus Areas identified in the Tech Hubs statute, with the goal of supercharging ecosystems of innovation for technologies essential to national security and economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs competition is part of the President's Investing in America Agenda, which seeks to stimulate private sector investment, create good-paying jobs, and revitalize American manufacturing.
  • The program will create tech hubs in regions across the country by bringing together industry, higher education institutions, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners.
  • Successful proposals will demonstrate a region's capabilities in, and focus on, its primary technological strength, and the potential for Tech Hubs investments to enable a region's primary innovative industry to become a global leader in that critical technology area within a decade.
  • Applicants will select a technology industry to focus on that fits under the umbrella of a list of 10 Key Focus Areas identified within the Tech Hubs statute.
  • The Tech Hubs Program aims to advance the capacities of places to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technologies, with key priorities including expanding regional economic opportunity, driving economic opportunity and inclusive economic growth, and building a skilled, diverse workforce and supply chain.
  • The Commerce Department will evaluate applications through a three-month window, and successful consortia will focus on holistic approaches to upskilling and training workers in the fields and industries of tomorrow.
  • The program has identified 10 Key Focus Areas, which will guide the development of tech hubs:

* Geospatial Technology

* Quantum Computing

* Advanced Manufacturing

* Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

* Cybersecurity

* Autonomous Systems

* Electric Vehicles

* Workforce Development and Education

* Supply Chain Sustainability

* Digital Infrastructure

  • The program will provide funding for planning grants and Tech Hubs Designations, with a second Notice of Funding Opportunity expected to be launched later this year for implementation funding.
  • The Tech Hubs Program has two key priorities: Expanding Regional Economic Opportunity and Democratizing Technology Innovation, and Driving Economic Opportunity and Inclusive Economic Growth, and Building a Skilled, Diverse Workforce and Supply Chain.

Statistics:

  • The program has a budget of [undisclosed amount] for the current round of funding.
  • The Commerce Department will evaluate applications through a three-month window.
  • The program aims to create tech hubs in regions across the country.
  • The program has identified 10 Key Focus Areas, which will guide the development of tech hubs.
  • The program has two key priorities: Expanding Regional Economic Opportunity and Democratizing Technology Innovation, and Driving Economic Opportunity and Inclusive Economic Growth, and Building a Skilled, Diverse Workforce and Supply Chain.

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of Commerce [Category: New Offerings]
  • TechHubs.gov
  • Investing in America Agenda
  • CHIPS and Science Act

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