Strong regional ecosystems connect universities, entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturers, workforce organizations, and state and local governments. Rather than supporting just isolated institutions, federal agencies are now investing in collaborative regional networks capable of translating research into new companies, industries, and jobs. The intent is not for every region to become the next Silicon Valley, but to enable regions to compete by organizing around what they already do well.
This strategy has evolved through Manufacturing USA institutes, DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs, EDA’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and the Department of War's Microelectronics Commons. These initiatives each demonstrated that regions move faster when their institutions work together. The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines (Engines) and Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) represent the most ambitious examples of this place-based strategy.
NSF Engines
NSF created the Engines program to strengthen regional innovation capacity over the long term. The goal is to create self-sustaining innovation ecosystems capable of generating research breakthroughs, new companies, skilled workers, and regional economic growth. Engines receive phased support over as many as ten years, reflecting the understanding that growing successful innovation ecosystems requires long-term collaboration rather than short-term projects.
For the newest Engine awards, NSF generally selected regions that were already building upon established research and industrial strengths. The Ascending Rural communities through Sustainable, Transformative Advanced Manufacturing INnovations and Alliances (RuralSTAMINA) Engine, led by Iowa State University, is helping rural communities across Iowa and Nebraska expand biomanufacturing by connecting universities, agricultural producers, manufacturers, and regional partners. Rather than concentrating innovation in a single metropolitan area, the engine seeks to strengthen regional supply chains while creating new economic opportunities across rural communities.
The Advancing Quantum Technologies (QuantumCT) Engine, led by the University of Connecticut in partnership with Yale, builds upon the state's longstanding expertise in precision manufacturing and advanced engineering to accelerate the development and commercialization of quantum technologies. By bringing together universities, manufacturers, startup companies, and industry partners, the engine is working to position the region as a national leader in quantum sensing, computing, and related technologies.
Similarly, the Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology (NEO-SMART) Engine combines advanced materials, polymers, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing technologies. Led by Case Western Reserve University, the initiative brings together a broad coalition to modernize one of the nation's historic manufacturing regions while creating new opportunities for entrepreneurship and technology deployment.
NSF Engines are not intended to create innovation ecosystems where none exist, but instead to enhance existing regional assets and strengthen the relationships needed to translate research excellence into long-term economic growth. Universities remain central participants, but they operate as members of larger regional partnerships rather than as independent research institutions.
EDA Tech Hubs
EDA's Tech Hubs program, on the other hand, focuses more directly on commercialization, industrial competitiveness, and technology-based economic growth. Authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, the Tech Hubs program seeks to help regions build industries around critical and emerging technologies while expanding the geographic diversity of the nation's innovation economy.
Like NSF Engines, Tech Hubs require broad regional coalitions that include universities, industry, entrepreneurs, investors, workforce organizations, state and local governments, and nonprofit partners. However, EDA places greater emphasis on moving technologies into the marketplace through startup formation, manufacturing scale-up, supply chain development, infrastructure investments, and private sector investment. Successful proposals demonstrate not only research excellence but also a clear pathway toward commercialization and long-term industrial growth.
Recent Tech Hub implementation awards illustrate how the program amplifies existing regional assets rather than attempting to create entirely new industries. The Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub is leveraging the state's longstanding strengths in medical imaging, diagnostics, and precision medicine to expand commercialization, manufacturing, and workforce development. The Tulsa Tech Hub builds upon Oklahoma's deep aerospace heritage to commercialize autonomous aviation technologies while strengthening the region's aerospace and autonomous systems supply chain.
In Montana, the Headwaters Tech Hub is expanding regional expertise in photonic sensing technologies to support applications in natural resource management, national security, precision agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Meanwhile, the Nevada Lithium Batteries and Other EV Material Loop (Nevada Tech Hub) is strengthening domestic lithium battery and electric vehicle materials supply chains by connecting mining, mineral processing, battery manufacturing, universities, and workforce partners to support the nation's growing electric vehicle and energy storage industries.
Tech Hubs recognize that commercialization is rarely the work of a single company or university. Moving an idea from the laboratory to the marketplace requires manufacturing capacity, entrepreneurs, investors, skilled workers, suppliers, and public partners. In other words, good ideas do not become industries on their own.
Where are these programs complementing each other?
Some regions have emerged as successful applicants across multiple place-based initiatives. Although the specific awards differ, these regions share remarkably similar characteristics. Figure 1 below includes a map of EDA Tech Hubs and NSF Engines (both Cohort 1 and 2). Note that several regions have overlapping award icons; please use the search tool under the legend if looking for information on a specific award.
Figure 1: Distribution of NSF Engine and EDA Tech Hub Designee awardees
One example can be found along the Gulf Coast, where complementary federal investments are helping strengthen Louisiana's emerging clean energy economy. The FUEL NSF Engine, led by Louisiana State University, is advancing technologies and workforce development for low-carbon energy by bringing together universities, industry, community colleges, state agencies, and regional partners across Louisiana. At the same time, the Gulf Louisiana Offshore Energy (GLOE) Tech Hub is building on the state's decades of experience in maritime industries, offshore energy and energy-related activities, and other energy infrastructure to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation offshore energy technologies, including cellulosic biofuels, carbon management, and other energy systems. Although these initiatives have different missions, they reinforce one another by combining long-term research capacity with commercialization, industrial deployment, and workforce development around a shared goal: clean energy.
Similarly, the Carolinas combine internationally recognized research universities, electric utilities, advanced manufacturers, and coordinated workforce systems. The Grid Modernization Engine, led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, strengthens regional collaboration around next-generation energy systems. At the same time, South Carolina's SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy Tech Hub focuses on cyber-secure grid resilience technologies and improving the clean energy supply chain by leveraging the region's manufacturing base, research capabilities, and public-private collaboration.
Looking across these competitions, the technologies may differ, but the winning regions look surprisingly similar. Each has internationally competitive research institutions, existing industry clusters, experienced regional partnerships, strong workforce systems, committed state leadership, and a clearly articulated commercialization strategy. Regions that have spent years building collaborative innovation ecosystems but have not yet reached the level of Silicon Valley or the NC Research Triangle are increasingly well-positioned to compete for multiple federal initiatives.
NSF Engines and EDA Tech Hubs represent the federal government's most comprehensive effort to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems yet. Future regional competitiveness will depend on the ability to build durable regional collaborations that align research capabilities with industry needs, workforce development, commercialization, and private investment. Regions that cultivate and sustain these partnerships over time will be best positioned to compete for future federal investments and contribute to the nation's long-term technology leadership.
This page was prepared by SSTI using Federal funds under award ED22HDQ3070129 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Tags: NSF, EDA, Tech Hubs, NSF Engines