Klobuchar, a Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Worked to Create the Tech Hubs Program through CHIPS & Science Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that Minnesota MedTech 3.0 was designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs in the country which will receive federal support to accelerate technological innovation. The Tech Hubs designation was selected based on Minnesota’s leadership in healthcare and medical technology and its potential for rapid technology-led economic growth.
“This Tech Hub designation is a tribute to our cutting edge Minnesota businesses and our incredible workers. It will provide federal support for partnerships between Minnesota hospitals, research institutions, and medical technology companies to accelerate innovation, improve healthcare, and create good jobs,” said Klobuchar. “I pushed for this Tech Hub to ensure our state continues its global leadership in med tech for decades to come.”
“A diverse and powerful team of leaders and organizations came together this summer to create a plan to build the global future of medical technology here in Minneapolis-Saint Paul,” said GREATER MSP Partnership CEO Peter Frosch. “Our MedTech 3.0 plan will increase Minnesota’s competitiveness, America’s economic security and opportunity for residents across the entire Greater MSP region.”
“Medtronic is proud to be a leader in Minnesota MedTech 3.0 alongside so many other great partners,” said Medtronic Chairman & CEO Geoff Martha. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Minnesota, and we’re committed to using our resources to ensure the success of this Tech Hub.”
Minnesota MedTech 3.0, led by the GREATER MSP Partnership, will bring together Minnesota hospitals, research institutions, and medical device manufacturers to integrate cutting edge technology, data science, and device manufacturing to position Minnesota as a global center in medical technology and healthcare.
The Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program was created by the CHIPS & Science Act, which Klobuchar worked to pass last year. This program is designed to drive regional technology- and innovation-centric growth by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies while creating local jobs for workers at all skill levels. Klobuchar wrote letters of support for Minnesota’s application to be a Tech Hub.
Designated Tech Hubs are eligible to receive millions of dollars in direct federal investment. The 31 Tech Hubs were selected from 198 applications from regional partnerships that include industry, academia, workforce, state and local governments, and economic development organizations.
In June, Klobuchar, hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference at Normandale Community College with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to discuss the recently passed bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act and how it can benefit Minnesota’s workers and economy.
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