On Monday, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration designated an Indiana entity as one of the 31 initial Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs across the country.

It follows an announcement earlier this month by Democratic President Joe Biden that the U.S. Department of Energy will fund the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, or MachH2 Hub, to build-out new sources of hydrogen production, including at the BP Refinery in Whiting.

The latest designation permits Heartland BioWorks, a consortium led by the Bloomington-based Applied Research Institute, to compete for up to $75 million in implementation grants over the next few months, as well as future federal investments focused on cultivating globally competitive innovation centers in specific key technology areas.

In particular, Heartland BioWorks plans to work to ensure bioproducts invented at companies and universities in central Indiana also are manufactured in Indiana or elsewhere in the United States — instead of overseas in potentially hostile nations.

“Heartland BioWorks is securing America’s biotech future, and this hub will provide biotech startups with access to manufacturing facilities and expertise, implement the workforce training future biotech innovations require, and focus on engaging innovators in historically underserved communities,” said Dave Roberts, Applied Research Institute CEO.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb likewise was ecstatic the federal government is aware of the innovative bioscience and technology work already underway in Indiana, along with the unlimited potential for future innovations.

“This is just the news we hoped to receive. The EDA’s designation of Heartland BioWorks as a regional tech hub is a recognition of Indiana’s rich tradition of innovation and leadership in both the manufacturing and life science sectors,” Holcomb said. “We’ll continue to strongly support the hub and look forward to moving forward in the process.”

Federal funding for regional tech hubs was included in the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, whose approval was championed by, among others, U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Northwest Indiana U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland.

“When I authored the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program, my goal was to spur more innovation in technologies of the future in places like Indiana, rather than just Silicon Valley and a few coastal cities,” Young said.

“This designation could lead to millions in federal investment and will open the floodgates for more private capital in biotech research and development across the state.”

Mrvan also applauded the stakeholders for successfully securing federal recognition for their biotechnology innovation and research initiatives.

“Let us build upon this successful model of collaboration and partnership, as evidenced in this tech cub and the recent Hydrogen Hub designation, to continue to create more good-paying job opportunities and strengthen our economy for the benefit of all current residents and future generations,” Mrvan said.

The CHIPS and Science Act also was supported in the Indiana congressional delegation by U.S. Reps. Jim Baird, R-Greencastle, whose district includes Northwest Indiana’s Newton and Jasper counties; Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis; and Trey Hollingsworth, R-Jeffersonville.

Hoosier lawmakers voting against the measure were: U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., a 2024 candidate for Indiana governor; and U.S. Reps. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City, a 2024 candidate for U.S. Senate; Larry Bucshon, R-Evansville; Greg Pence, R-Columbus; Victoria Spartz, R-Noblesville; and Jackie Walorski, R-Elkhart.

While Heartland BioWorks is centered in Indianapolis, a federal funding award could expand research capabilities and workforce development opportunities at Valparaiso University — the only Northwest Indiana higher education institution participating in the consortium.

“Northwest Indiana is known for manufacturing and Valpo is known for developing talented graduates. When both are blended with Valpo’s research capabilities in biotech and a budding entrepreneurial ecosystem, you’ve got a recipe for economic growth in the Region,” said José Padilla, Valparaiso University president.

Indiana Commerce Secretary David Rosenberg concurred. He said the tech hub designation is a win for the entire state as Indiana continues working to foster and cultivate the industries of tomorrow.

“Heartland BioWorks’ multifaceted approach to advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing will nurture industry-specific startups, investments and R&D, driving life-changing products and life-saving solutions leveraged across the world,” Rosenberg said.

“This will also create profound opportunities for our state’s brightest minds to innovate and collaborate, while cementing the U.S. and Indiana as the leading hub for biotech manufacturing.”

The EDA also designated the Bloch Tech Hub, centered on Chicago, for the federal grant program. It seeks to advance quantum computing to enable new solutions for logistics optimization, drug discovery, fraud detection, secure data sharing and other innovations.

“Home to world-class institutions and first-rate research centers, Illinois is transforming technology, biomanufacturing, and innovation at every turn,” said Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. “There’s no doubt that the rest of the nation have caught on to our great state’s status as an innovation powerhouse — and our future couldn’t be brighter.”

Another Indiana consortium led by the University of Notre Dame was not designated as a tech hub, but still received a strategy development planning grant to further plans for a Midwest Wireless Innovation Hub.