Biden Administration Announces 31 Tech Hubs Across the Nation to Drive Innovation and Job Creation

The Biden administration announced on Monday the designation of 31 technology hubs across 32 states and Puerto Rico, aimed at promoting innovation and job creation in industries concentrated in these regions. President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of investing in critical technologies such as biotechnology, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing, with the goal of reestablishing the United States as a global leader in innovation.

The tech hubs are a result of the Commerce Department's initiative launched in May, which distributed $500 million in grants to cities to stimulate investment in new technologies. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo reported that her department received a staggering 400 applications, demonstrating the widespread interest in this initiative from CEOs, governors, senators, congresspeople, and university presidents. The $500 million funding for the program was authorized through the CHIPS and Science Act, a $10 billion authorization from last year, aimed at expanding tech investment beyond the traditional tech hubs of Austin, Texas; Boston; New York; San Francisco; and Seattle, and spreading opportunity across the nation.

The program, formally known as the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program, aligns with President Biden's economic argument that good jobs should be accessible to people in their local communities and that opportunity should be distributed more evenly across the country. In an effort to catalyze investment in critical technologies, foster economic growth, enhance national security, and create job opportunities, these tech hubs will play a significant role in transforming communities into centers of innovation vital to American competitiveness.

The designated tech hubs stretch across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Montana, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia, New Hampshire, Missouri, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, 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 White House intends to elevate this message and highlight President Biden's related policies as he prepares for his 2024 re-election bid. With an overwhelming response and immense interest from various stakeholders, these tech hubs are expected to drive significant advancements in cutting-edge technologies and contribute to the economic progress and competitiveness of the United States.