U.S. Department of Commerce Official Visits Maine’s New Innovation Hub
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eric Smith, the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), recently visited the Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub in Maine. This facility was designated as a Tech Hub by the Biden-Harris Administration through the EDA in October 2023, and is led by the Maine Technology Institute.
The Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub is positioned to become a leading global center in sustainable wood biomass polymers. During his visit, Mr. Smith, alongside the Tech Hubs Program team, collaborated with the hub to fortify their strategic plans for excelling in forest-based biomaterial production. This involves extracting biological components from forests and transforming them into environmentally sustainable products.
The Tech Hubs Program is a pivotal initiative aimed at bolstering U.S. dominance in critical technologies and industries, which are essential to national security. The recognition of the Forest Bioproducts hub underscores its potential to significantly enhance the regional technology ecosystem and assert its global leadership in wood biomass polymers within the next ten years, thereby boosting U.S. national security and competitiveness.
Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, remarked, “Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing 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.” She emphasized the importance of ensuring vital tech industries thrive domestically, backing the commitment to future funding rounds and legislative support for additional federal resources.
Funded through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which authorizes $10 billion, the Tech Hubs Program is designed to enhance America’s capacity to develop, deliver, and implement cutting-edge technologies. This initiative aims to foster the creation of new businesses and quality employment opportunities.
For further information on the Tech Hubs program, visit TechHubs.gov.
