Biden-Harris Administration’s Tech Hubs Program Awards Approximately $51 Million to the Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy in Oklahoma to Strengthen the Region’s Capacity as a Global Leader in Autonomous Systems

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, edamedia@eda.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), has announced that it is slated to award approximately $51 million to the Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy, a consortium led by the Tulsa Innovation Labs in Oklahoma, to implement six projects that will bolster the region’s ability to scale up the production and delivery of critical technologies that will enable safe and effective autonomous systems.

In October 2023, Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy was selected as one of 31 Designated Tech Hubs in regions across the country as part of Phase 1 of the new Tech Hubs Program, a flagship initiative aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in critical technologies and industries. The designation is a strong endorsement of the consortium’s regional plan to supercharge its respective critical technology ecosystem and become a global leader over the next decade.

“Every American deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they live. Today’s announcement that the Department of Commerce is investing $504 million in Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs across the country will ensure that the benefits of the industries of the future – from artificial intelligence and clean energy, to biotechnology and more – are shared with communities that have been overlooked for far too long, including rural, Tribal, industrial, and disadvantaged communities,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “These Tech Hubs will give regions across our nation the resources and opportunities necessary to lead in the economy of tomorrow while creating good-paying jobs for American workers.”

“President Biden has been clear that you shouldn’t have to move to one of a handful of cities to get a good-paying job in tech. Now, thanks to the Tech Hubs program, we’re making good on that sentiment by expanding America’s innovation ecosystem and creating economic opportunity in new technology sectors all over the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to President Biden’s commitment to his Investing in America agenda, the Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy and the other Tech Hub awardees will play a critical role in accelerating America’s leadership in the industries of the future, all while creating high quality, family-sustaining 21st century jobs in people’s backyards.”

As one of 12 Tech Hub Designees selected for implementation funding, Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy will leverage this award to support projects that are:

• Increasing coordination on commercialization strategies among universities and the startups they support;  
• Building a state-of-the-art testing and simulation environment–with a focus on cyber and data management–for companies, researchers and regulatory entities to address barriers to commercial adoption;  
• Developing programs to identify opportunities for manufacturers in TEAS supply chains and build out a manufacturing demonstration center where small companies can scale their capabilities; 
• Creating an AI Center of Excellence to expand opportunities and increase exposure to technology for underserved communities; 
• Expanding workforce programs to align training with industry needs, provide upskilling, and offer on-the-job training opportunities; and 
• Establishing governance structures to execute projects, pursue additional funding and drive the Hub’s strategy. 

The final grant amount will be finalized in the coming months.

The Tulsa Hub for Equitable & Trustworthy Autonomy (THETA Tech Hub) aims to become a global leader in developing and commercializing autonomous systems for use cases ranging from agriculture and pipeline inspections to regional transportation. This Tech Hub will leverage the Greater Tulsa Region’s EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge award, its university-based research institutes in uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and cybersecurity technologies, the Skyway Range flight corridor testing facility, and existing capital investments. These regional assets will enable the THETA Tech Hub to develop and innovate autonomous systems applications while increasing their security and integrity. This has the potential to strengthen national and economic security while connecting small manufacturers across the region with opportunities in the autonomous systems supply chain.  The THETA Tech Hub seeks to be a hub for the development, testing, manufacturing of Trustworthy and Equitable Autonomous Systems (TEAS). (Click here to learn more about the THETA Tech Hub)

“The Department of Commerce is laser focused on expanding economic opportunity to every corner of this country,” said Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves. “The Tech Hubs program is a commitment to American economic prosperity and success. These 12 awardees embody the innovation and creativity that can be found nationwide, boosting U.S. manufacturing and bolstering U.S. global competitiveness, bringing President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to the forefront.”

“The 31 Tech Hubs Designees exemplify place-based economic development strategies at their best: combining federal resources with regional assets, expertise, and coalitions to implement transformational opportunities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We’re excited to see this initial round of implementation funding supporting a surge of new jobs, new technologies, and new energy to bolster America’s competitiveness.”

The Tech Hubs Program was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which he signed into law in August 2022. The statute authorized $10 billion for the program over five years. To date, EDA has been appropriated $541 million for the program.

The United States is the global leader in research and development, and the Tech Hubs Program is designed to increase the capacity and pace with which Americans make, deliver, and deploy innovative technologies, creating new, growing companies and new, good jobs.

Read more about the Tech Hubs program at TechHubs.gov.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.