THE BIDEN ADMNISTRATION TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR TECH HUBS IN THE U.S. AND PUERTO RICO

By Josue Rosario

The Tech Hubs Program's aim to create regional centers of innovation and promote economic growth aligns with the focus on innovation and technology in what people are calling “Bidenomics.”

On October 2023, the Biden administration announced 31 selected regional tech hubs from 370 applicants across 32 states and Puerto Rico.

Gina Raimondo, the Secretary of Commerce, expressed amazement at the quality and quantity of applications, which were all excellent and represented every state in the country. University presidents, senators, congresspeople, and governors all advocated for their tech hub.

The 31 designated tech hubs will each compete for up to $75 million in grants, which is part of the Commerce Department's program to provide a total of $500 million to cities with potential technology development.

These funds come from the $10 billion authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act signed by Biden in August 2022, which provides around $280 billion for domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors. Part of this funding is allocated to stimulate investment in new technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology. The administration's objective is to direct tech investment from large U.S. cities into less developed and rural areas. In addition to the 31 Tech Hubs, the Department of Commerce is granting 18 coalition Strategy Development Grants to create economic development plans and compete for future rounds of the Tech Hub program.

The Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program, more commonly known as the Tech Hubs Program, is aligned with Biden's economic argument that good jobs should be available to people where they live, and that opportunity should be spread throughout the country rather than concentrated in specific areas.

The 31 tech hubs are located in Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Montana, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia, New Hampshire, Missouri, Kansas, Maryland, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Minnesota, Louisiana, Idaho, Wyoming, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New York, Nevada, Missouri, Oregon, Vermont, Ohio, Maine, Washington, and Puerto Rico.

The Tech Hubs Program of the Biden Administration acknowledges the importance of innovation and aims to make the patent system more accessible, fair, and efficient for everyone. By creating Tech Hubs and reducing barriers, this program promotes inclusivity and speeds up innovation, helping inventors protect their intellectual property and contribute to the country's economic success. This initiative highlights the administration's commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem in the United States, ensuring that inventors have the necessary tools and support to thrive in a competitive global market.