Senator Baldwin Backs Wisconsin’s Application for a Regional Tech Hub, Calls on Biden Administration to Deliver Hub for Wisconsin

WISCONSIN – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today announced her support for Wisconsin’s application to bring a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hub) to Wisconsin. The Tech Hub program is an economic development initiative created by the Baldwin-backed CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin worked to secure an initial $500 million to fund the initiative aimed at driving technology- and innovation-centric growth and creating good-paying jobs.

Under the Tech Hubs program, the Economic Development Administration will first designate promising Tech Hubs across the country and award strategy development grants to accelerate the development of future Tech Hubs. From there, EDA will make at least five implementation awards to selected Tech Hubs. Since the program’s creation, Senator Baldwin has been working to bring a Tech Hub to Wisconsin. The Tech Hub program was modeled off the Brookings Institute report that identified Wisconsin as the top destination for a regional hub.

“Wisconsin has a rich history of innovation, backed by world-class research institutions, a robust Made in Wisconsin manufacturing economy, and the necessary pipeline of new talent to continue growing for the future,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to support the legislation that created Tech Hubs, and am now proud to support Wisconsin’s application to bring a Tech Hub to the Badger State. Wisconsin is a leader in biotech and personalized medicine, and bringing a Tech Hub to Wisconsin will bolster our state as a growth center in this cutting-edge industry, accelerating advances in health care, spurring economic growth in our communities, and creating good-paying jobs in the process.”

Wisconsin’s application comes from a consortium of 15 public and private partners organized by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to bolster Wisconsin’s leadership in personalized medicine and biohealth technology. Personalized medicine has the potential to transform medical care with customized treatments for each patient, combining genomic innovation, advanced imaging technologies, big data analytics, AI computing, and other cutting-edge technology to provide effective, affordable, and equitable health care.

Consortium members include: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the University of Wisconsin System Administration, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, GE HealthCare, Rockwell Automation, Exact Sciences Corporation, BioForward Wisconsin, Employ Milwaukee, Accuray, Plexus, WRTP Big Step, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, the Madison Regional Economic Partnership (MadREP), and Milwaukee7.

“Wisconsin has always been at the center of research, innovation, education, and manufacturing that changes the world, transforms people’s lives, and enhances their economic and personal well-being,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “Wisconsin is now at the forefront of one of the most dramatic advances we’re seeing in medical care – personalized medicine. We owe it to the people of our state – and the world -- to continue to build on that momentum.”

For more information about Wisconsin’s application, please click here.

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