Following the announcement of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs implementation grant winners, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a leading think tank for science and technology policy, released a statement from Robert D. Atkinson, president of ITIF.

"Today, the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Economic Development Administration announced the recipients of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) implementation grants. This federal effort aims to 'move the needle' by providing $504 million to 12 Tech Hubs nationwide that are not world-leading tech regions, such as Boston and Silicon Valley, but have the potential to be globally competitive in critical technological sectors within a decade."

Atkinson emphasized that these selected locations focus more on commercialization and production rather than research, development, and discovery. He noted that these areas are where "the U.S. faces the most significant risks from China."

The ITIF's 2019 report had called for establishing such a program with an investment of $100 billion over ten years. Although the CHIPS and Science Act authorized $10 billion for Tech Hubs, much less has been appropriated so far. The president's last budget included $4.041 billion for two-year program funding.

Atkinson urged Congress to prioritize U.S. competitiveness by appropriating at least the amount requested by the president to ensure regional opportunity across the nation while supporting national security and techno-economic competitiveness against China.

Contact: Sydney Mack, [email protected]