US Ignite calls for investment in regional hubs to sustain U.S. economic competitiveness
WASHINGTON – February 27, 2025 – US Ignite today announced the publication of “Regional Innovation Hubs Must be Scaled to Drive Economic Innovation.” This new white paper examines the role of regional innovation hubs in driving economic growth, demonstrating the need for increased federal funding, in tandem with strong programmatic and technical support for these programs.
The paper cites examples of regional investment from the European Union and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, while pointing to domestic examples of success, such as the Chattanooga Innovation District, Cortex Innovation Community in St. Louis, MO, the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Regional Innovation Engines, and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs. US Ignite finds that investing in regional innovation hubs spurs economic growth, job creation, and resilience.
US Ignite also identifies recommendations, challenges, and mitigation steps for U.S. agencies, such as the establishment of community-led working groups and collaboration with external coaching partners to identify funding opportunities that can help enable sustainable growth.
“From years of supporting smart cities, startups, and researchers across the country, US Ignite knows firsthand the importance of both well-structured funding and community partnerships in order for regional innovation hubs to thrive,” said Nick Maynard, CEO and Co-Founder of US Ignite. “By scaling these efforts, the U.S. can lead the global technological race while building sustainable economic growth rooted in our small and mid-sized communities.”
To read the white paper, visit www.us-ignite.org/regional-innovation-hubs. For more information about US Ignite and regional innovation hubs, visit www.us-ignite.org/.
About US Ignite
US Ignite works closely with communities, military bases, startups, and researchers to solve their toughest economic development and technology innovation challenges. Operating like a high-tech startup, our organization delivers customized results through stakeholder engagement, technical expertise, and targeted tools.