Tech Hubs Statutory Overview

Overview of techhubs.gov program, from Feb 2023 NACIE meeting

Transcript

1. The Regional Technology & Innovation Hubs Program A Statutory Overview February 9, 2023
2. Different Economies, Different Interventions tech / inno maturity economic distress Tech Hubs BBBRC Recompete
3. Requirements, Constraints & Opportunities Authorities Three components: • Designation of Hubs • Strategy Development Grants • Strategy Implementation Grants (in no set order) $10B authorized; $500M appropriated—funds are not time- limited Implementation grants may fund wide range of activities Eligible Applicants Award recipients must be eligible consortia (five categories of mandatory members and 13 categories of optional members) Region must have assets that can aid in the rapid commercialization of critical, emerging technologies Overall Portfolio Must designate at least 20 Hubs; encouraged to award at least 60 predevelopment grants over the lifetime of the program; no Hub may receive a subsequent award resulting in >10% of total implementation dollars Defined list of thirteen considerations for implementation awards
4. $10 billion Appropriation vs. Authorization What we’ve been appropriated (i.e., the amount we can use for Tech Hubs) The program’s authorization level (i.e., the current maximum over the full life of the program) $500 million
5. Constraints on Numbers designation strategy development strategy implementation # will depend on appropriations levels and timing min 20 designees target: 60 planning grants* ¹⁄₃+ small & rural ¹⁄₃+ EPSCoR 3+ in each of EDA’s 6 regions ¹⁄₃+ small & rural ¹⁄₃+ EPSCoR 1+ HQed in low pop. State 2+ benefit underserved communities * over program lifetime
6. EDA Regions
7. Constraints on Dollars designation strategy development strategy implementation max $50m total $50m × 199 = $9.95b initial award <= $150m no single hub w/> 10% of total obligations (eventually)
8. Combined #/$ Constraints designation strategy development strategy implementation max $50m total $50m × 199 = $9.95b encouraged to award at least 60 planning grants* max. $50m total therefore, the average planning grant* can be no more than $833k ($50m ⁄ 60) max. 10% total obligations per hub therefore, at least 10 hubs (eventually) * over program lifetime
9. Consortia Structure REQUIRED institutes of higher ed subnational / Tribal gov econ dev orgs (sci, tech, inno, e’ship focused) industry or firms in rel. tech, inno, or mfg sectors labor or workforce training orgs econ dev districts or ~ orgs ↑ underserved pops in sci, tech, inno, and e’ship elem & 2ndary schools national labs venture dev orgs employee ownership membership assocs; State / local employee ownerships and coop dev ctrs; fin insts and investment funds (incl. CDFIs, min dep insts); similar mfg extension centers federal labs Mfg USA institutes transpo planning orgs cooperative extension services orgs repping underserved communities in econ dev institutions receiving NSF RIE awards optional
10. Mandatory Considerations Engagement with the private sector Support for regional procurement K-12 and higher ed STEM programs Technology entrepreneur support and access to capital Organization of tech hub consortium members and partners Alignment of education with technology focus Equity and inclusion Integration with Federally-funded generators of innovation Workforce development and skills acquisition programs Likelihood of positive regional economic effect Potential to advance key technology domains Support for cleantech and advanced manufacturing Sustainability beyond Federal support
11. For all the details, see the statute at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a