Biden-Harris Administration’s Tech Hubs Program Awards Approximately $49 Million to the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub in Wisconsin to Strengthen the Region’s Capacity as a Global Leader in Personalized Medicine

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 $49 million to the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub, a consortium led by BioForward Wisconsin, to implement five projects that will bolster the region’s ability to scale up the production and delivery of critical technologies that will advance biotechnology in precision and predictive medicine.

In October 2023, Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub 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 Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub 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, Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub will leverage this award to support projects that are:

• Creating a comprehensive, inclusive real-world data ecosystem that accelerates the biohealth product development lifecycle while utilizing national best practices to ensure secure, compliant, and ethical use of patient data; 
• Deploying mobile cancer screening and healthcare referral fleets in underserved communities to deliver care to neighborhoods experiencing the highest health disparities and to ensure that new innovations and product extensions reach diverse populations; 
• Employing artificial intelligence and sophisticated data techniques to streamline the clinical integration of new technologies and prepare manufacturers and supply chains for upcoming demands to drive the growth of theranostics and personalized medicine; 
• Creating inclusive talent pipelines that align with employer demands and addressing the workforce challenges inherent in developing, scaling, building, and deploying new technologies; and 
• Synergizing initiatives, track metrics, and share learnings to reinforce the cycle of innovation and deployment through Hub-wide leadership, project management, and fostering coordination.  

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

The Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub aims to position Wisconsin as a global leader in personalized medicine, an emerging healthcare approach that tailors tests, treatments, and therapies informed by a patient’s unique genetic code, medical record, and environment. Leveraging its cluster of healthcare assets and track record of commercializing medical research, this Tech Hub seeks to facilitate manufacturing coordination and data sharing, expand lab space and computing capacity, advance the field of critical genomic technology, and accelerate domestic biotech manufacturing. The Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub seeks to strengthen personalized medicine innovation and manufacturing and commercialization ecosystem in the region in three key areas: imaging/theranostics, genomics, and big data/analytics. (Click here to learn more about the Wisconsin Biohealth 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.”

“From Microsoft’s $3.3 billion investment in an AI datacenter in Mount Pleasant to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s $58 million expansion in Middleton, we’re positioning Wisconsin as a national leader in innovative industries as we work to build the economy we need to meet the demands of the 21st century,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. “I’m grateful to President Biden, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and our federal partners for seeing the potential and promise in Wisconsin’s biotech industry and working tirelessly to help us secure these critical investments to accelerate research, grow our workforce and economy, and continue building a multi-billion-dollar industry that supports tens of thousands of jobs across our state.”

“Today’s announcement is proof of what we as Wisconsinites have long known: We have world-class universities, a second-to-none workforce, and a thriving private sector that will drive the next wave of American innovation. Make no mistake, this investment in the Badger State will create and support thousands of good paying jobs, grow our Made in Wisconsin economy, and revolutionize health care as we know it – helping people get the care they need earlier and faster,” said Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin. “Today’s announcement recognizes our state’s rich history of innovation and manufacturing and doubles down on our state’s potential to be a major player in the next chapter of an up-and-coming industry.”

“This is excellent news for Wisconsin and shows how the President’s CHIPS and Science Act is transforming promises into real results,” said Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02). “This investment will create high-quality jobs, drive innovation, and enhance personalized medicine, reinforcing Wisconsin’s role in the future of healthcare. I’m thrilled the Biden-Harris Administration is recognizing the incredible potential here in Wisconsin, and look forward to the healthcare innovations and economic boost this investment will bring.”

“Wisconsin is a growing leader in personalized medicine. This important funding will empower the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub using unique health care data infrastructure that supports entrepreneurship and innovation and addresses inequities in cancer screenings,” said Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04). “The Biden-Harris administration continues to make investments in Wisconsin that leverage our skilled manufacturing sector and world-class research universities, bringing economic opportunities to our communities.”

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.