Sen. Todd Young
U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) led the Indiana congressional delegation in offering full support of Indiana’s application to be named a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub that could lead to millions of dollars in federal investment.
“With our deep history of public, private, and academic coordination in life sciences, a Tech Hub designation and future funding would enable the collaboration that has existed in Indiana for decades to fully reach its potential,” the Indiana delegation wrote in an Aug. 11 letter to Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
Sen. Young introduced the Tech Hub concept in the Endless Frontier Act of 2020, which eventually became law in 2022 as part of the CHIPS and Science Act. He has advocated for fully funding the Tech Hubs program so more Tech Hubs can receive monies.
As part of the Tech Hubs application process, the Economic Development Administration will name at least 20 Tech Hubs from across the country that will then be eligible to compete for $500 million in funding.
Sen. Young and his colleagues said that Indiana has the ideal combination of life sciences expertise, manufacturing excellence, technological potential, and regional and cross-sector cooperation to be named a Tech Hub.
“Our expansive network of universities and community colleges will ensure that everyone has access to the training needed to participate in this new economy. Our established life sciences sector will ensure a pipeline of innovative treatments. Our advanced manufacturing heritage will guarantee the drugs of the future are Made in America. And our preeminent logistics infrastructure will ensure that we can distribute the products we make,” said the letter, which was also signed by U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN).