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EDA receives 378 applications for Tech Hubs competition

August 31, 2023
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The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has received 378 applications from 48 states for Phase 1 of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) competition. In total, 48 states and three territories submitted 378 Tech Hubs Phase 1 applications.

The competition is divided into two parts. The first part will designate Tech Hubs in regions across the country that bring together industry, higher education institutions, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners to supercharge ecosystems of innovation for technologies that are essential to our economic and national security. The second part will separately award approximately $15 million in strategy development grants to accelerate the development of future Tech Hubs.

There were 378 applications from 247 unique lead consortia members:

  • 68 (28%) submitted only applications for a Tech Hubs Designation;
  • 124 (50%) submitted applications for both Designation and Strategy Development Grants; and
  • 55 (22%) submitted only applications for Strategy Development Grants.

Applicants requested more than $75 million in Federal funding for strategy development grants across the 181 Strategy Development Grant applications. EDA is reviewing all 378 applications and says it will announce which applicants will receive Tech Hub designations in Fall 2023. The designated Tech Hubs will be invited to apply for implementation grants.

It is expected that EDA will designate at least 20 Tech Hubs nationwide and make approximately 30 strategy development awards using roughly $15 million of the $500 million available for the Tech Hubs program. 

Additional information on the Tech Hubs program can be found at TechHubs.gov.

tech hubs, eda