Federally designated Tech Hubs are getting another chance at funding this year. There have been some shake-ups since the program started in 2023, though. A new administration is coloring how the EDA-funded coalitions are approaching their pitches.
For a minute there, folks were pretty worried about what would happen to these hubs under Trump, who notably came out against parts of the act that created the hubs, plus his administration canceled awards for several of them. At this point, however, Tech Hub leaders feel ok about it.
The “core of EDA has remained the same” — bringing innovation to market to boost local economies — despite the federal administration change
Lakey Boyd, Greater Baltimore Committee
The “core of EDA has remained the same” — bringing innovation to market to boost local economies — despite the administration change, said Lakey Boyd, chief economic officer at the Greater Baltimore Committee.
A September notice to submit funding proposals (NOFO) went out to the 19 unfunded hubs, seeking requests for grants to accelerate US manufacturing, commercialization and (a new one) warfighting capabilities. The hubs are finetuning their pitches based on past feedback and new priorities to hopefully get a chunk of the $220 million available.
“Our overarching goals haven’t changed much, because the vision behind our hub is consistent with Trump administration priorities,” Christie Dudenhoefer, executive director of the Semiconductor Economic Development and Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub, told me. “However, we have refined our scope and are adjusting our narrative to really land the message about national security and taxpayer bargain.”
Other tweaks include reducing emphasis on DEI and equity, like at the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub, according to director Iain Macdonald.
But the real hope at the core of hub leadership? That their mission is universally impactful enough to remain bipartisan. Like at the Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, where regional innovation officer Jean-Luc Cambier said Trump administration support for quantum is a clear priority.
It’s similar at the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy in Missouri. Compared to the Biden admin, “the [Trump] administration’s emphasis on critical minerals and materials is sharper,” regional innovation officer Kwame Awuah-Offei said.
Collaboration amid the competition
No one is slowing down, no matter what happens from admin to admin, or grant to grant. That’s why, as much as this is a competition, it is also a collaboration.
Almost all of the hub leaders I chatted with shouted out partnerships with others in the program, as well as private sector organizations and local universities. Vermont Gallium Nitride Tech Hub regional innovation officer Doug Merrill referenced a “strong alignment” with the Microelectronics Commons Hubs and directly worked with NORDTECH hub on workforce development. Meanwhile, the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition is providing funding for lab opening in 2026.
At Minnesota MedTech, “in the same days the Tech Hubs NOFO was being announced, we were rallying our coalition around those next calls to action,” partnership lead Matt Lewis said. “Our Tech Hubs designation is an important part of our story, but it’s one piece of a bigger puzzle to drive the next medical breakthroughs.”
And that’s good for the communities they serve, but also because there’s just not enough time to get this NOFO done. Leaders are working quickly to turn it around by Nov. 7.
“It’s fast and furious,” said Dudenhoefer from Corvallis. “The EDA is doing a great job providing support despite the shutdown, but the timeline is a huge challenge.”
