The Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hubs) competition has been launched by the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC), a funding opportunity program authorized under the CHIPS and Science Act.
The program will create tech hubs in regions across the U.S. bringing together industry, education institutions, state and local governments, economic development vendors and other ecosystem partners to spur innovation and technologies key to the country’s economic and national security, the USDOC said.
The first funding opportunity for Tech Hubs has also been launched for planning grants and designations. A second funding opportunity will be launched later this year, the USDOC said.
“The Tech Hubs program is a critical piece of President Biden’s Investing in America strategy and will help us create ecosystems of innovation to strengthen economic opportunity in communities around the country that have historically been overlooked,” said Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
The Commerce Department will evaluate applications through a three-month window with successful proposals demonstrating capabilities to focus on technology strength and the potential innovation that can come from Tech Hubs funding. Regions are not bound by specific borders but rather focus on identifying sections of the country with assets, resources, capacity and potential to become competitive in critical technologies, the USDOC said.
Key priorities of the Tech Hubs program include:
- Expanding region innovation
- Driving economic growth and opportunity
- Build a skilled workforce
Learn more about the funding opportunity at TechHubs.gov
