GILLETTE, Wyo. — The federal government announced that two tech hubs that Wyoming is a partner in are among 31 nationally that won eligibility for millions of dollars in federal funding.
The hubs show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors, a news release from the U.S. Economic Development Administration said. The Department of Commerce has now launched a second Tech Hubs Notice of Funding Opportunity, allowing these designated Tech Hubs to apply to receive between $40 million and $70 million each for implementation funding. The 31 tech hubs were selected from nearly 400 applications that each outlined plans for strengthening its region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy critical technologies.
The projects Wyoming is involved in are Elevate Quantum Colorado, which is near Denver, and the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Tech Hub.
In a news release from U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-WY, University of Wyoming Vice President for Research and Economic Development Parag Chitnis said the university is honored to be part of the two hubs. Collaborating with Colorado for quantum computing and Idaho for nuclear energy will support economic development in Wyoming.
Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Tech Hub will strengthen nuclear reactor development and production through both collaboration and testing locations as well as nuclear industry workforce development programs, the administration said. It involves nuclear small modular reactors and microreactors and includes the Laramie and Rock Springs areas and Wind River Indian Reservation of Wyoming. Its goal is to make Idaho and Wyoming global leaders contributing to clean energy.
Elevate Quantum Colorado, a consortium led by Elevate Quantum, will strengthen Denver’s leadership in quantum information technology with regional resources to prove quantum-based products and move them to market, the administration said. The hub is supposed to strengthen infrastructure and the quantum hardware supply chain.
The CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed in August 2022, authorized funding to support globally competitive innovation centers, create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security.
