Statement from NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan on the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Regional Technology and Innovation Hub awardees

The U.S. National Science Foundation congratulates the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) on its announcement today of its Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs). In alignment with the 'CHIPS and Science Act of 2022,' NSF and EDA have embarked on the critical work of catalyzing place-based, science and engineering-driven regional innovation and economic development in communities across the nation. NSF — through the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program, which in January invested an initial $150 million in 10 inaugural NSF Engines, matched by more than $350 million in public and private commitments, plus another nearly $60 million over the last year in an additional 58 planning grants — and EDA, through its Tech Hubs, share the goal of accelerating technology and innovation in regional ecosystems across the U.S. to address pressing challenges and grow the future workforce. NSF looks forward to working with the EDA Tech Hub awardees to advance this mission, including the several Tech Hubs that complement NSF's investments in NSF Engines.

Building upon our memorandum of understanding, NSF and EDA will model a whole-of-government approach to usher in a new era of place-based innovation and economic development for the United States, ensuring we create opportunity and jobs in every corner of the nation. This work will also unlock the technologies and talent necessary to ensure America's long-term economic competitiveness, security and defense in the face of significant investments by other nations.