Think Tech Hubs should be funded? Join SSTI and others in acting now

Congress authorized $10 billion over five years for regional tech hubs to improve America’s competitiveness and regional economies. To date, Congress has appropriated only $541 million for the program—just 5% of the authorized level—of which a $459 million downpayment was provided though the FY 2023 disaster supplemental. SSTI is working with other technology and innovation organizations to encourage Congress to act and fund the program through annual appropriations, supplemental funding, and the proceeds of spectrum auctions—a new means that would be made possible by the Senate’s Spectrum and National Security Act. If you represent or participated in one of the 370 regions that applied originally or want to compete for funding in future solicitations, sign on to a joint letter by November 12.

The letter can be found here with the form to sign here.

The $541 million provided to date was just enough for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to launch the initial program. Consortia representing 370 regions applied, from which EDA designated 31 as Regional Tech Hubs in 2023. The agency is now in the process of finalizing implementation awards to 12 regions. The initial, small investment in the Tech Hubs is already working across 14 states to advance companies, entrepreneurs, and workers in sectors that include quantum computing, critical minerals, biofabrication, advanced materials, and semiconductor manufacturing.

For more information or any questions, please email Dan Berglund, SSTI President, berglund at ssti dot org