Commerce Official Visits Illinois to Bolster Tech Advancements
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maryam Janani-Flores, the Chief of Staff at the Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the U.S. Department of Commerce, recently visited The Bloch Tech Hub in Illinois. Recognized as a Tech Hub in October 2023 by the Biden-Harris Administration, this initiative is spearheaded by the Chicago Quantum Exchange.
The Bloch Tech Hub is pivotal in establishing the region as a powerhouse in quantum information science and technology (QIST). During the visit, Ms. Janani-Flores collaborated with Tech Hub leaders to enhance strategies that promote the region’s QIST leadership. This involves fostering industry partnerships, crafting innovation spaces, and developing a testbed for a commercial-grade quantum network accessible to the public.
The Tech Hubs Program, a critical component of U.S. national security and technological advancement, aims to cement the nation’s standing in essential tech sectors. The designation of The Bloch Tech Hub signifies a robust plan to amplify the region’s technology ecosystem, aspiring to position it as a global leader in quantum computing and communications, thereby boosting U.S. competitiveness on an international scale.
“The Bloch Tech Hub embodies the spirit and potential of the Tech Hubs Program to take centers of excellence and make them world-class tech ecosystems through targeted investments,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “That’s precisely why I’ve asked Maryam Janani-Flores to travel to Chicago with a team to meet with leadership and provide technical assistance on their strategy. The Tech Hubs Program is crucial to ensuring tech industries vital to U.S. economic and national security start, stay, and grow in the U.S., and that’s why I’m committed to future rounds of funding and working with lawmakers to support additional federal resources to support all of our designees.”
Backed by a $10 billion authorization under the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, the Tech Hubs Program is structured to boost the U.S.’s capacity to innovate and deliver advanced technologies, fostering the growth of new businesses and creating quality employment opportunities.
Read more about the Tech Hubs program at TechHubs.gov.
