The Biden administration awarded $504 million to a dozen projects across the U.S. in an effort to transform overlooked communities into technological powerhouses. The grants will fund “tech hubs” in regions like Montana, Indiana, Florida, and New York, aiming to accelerate the growth of biomanufacturing, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and personalized medicine industries.
The program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, seeks to expand science and technology funding beyond Silicon Valley and coastal regions to revitalize areas with less government investment. Proponents believe the projects will create good-paying jobs and tap into underutilized resources.
The program initially considered nearly 400 applications, with 31 projects designated as “tech hubs” in October. On Tuesday, 12 regions received grants ranging from $19 million to $51 million. However, uncertainty remains regarding the availability of additional funding, as only 5% of the $10 billion authorized by Congress has been appropriated so far.
Despite funding challenges, experts like John Lettieri and Mark Muro believe the grants are a step in the right direction but not likely to lead to major technological breakthroughs without additional funding. Commerce Department officials expressed eagerness to provide more funding if lawmakers appropriate more money to the program.
Winning projects include developing drones and autonomous systems in Tulsa and investing in biotechnology and biomanufacturing in Indiana. These initiatives aim to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign production for autonomous technologies, address cultural bias in A.I. systems, and leverage local industry clusters in the biotech space. Overall, recipients are optimistic about the economic and technological advancements that can be achieved with increased funding.
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