Colorado would be a prime location for a Defense Tech Hub
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Eric Schmitt introduced the bipartisan Defense Technology Hubs Act, which would spur defense innovation and investment across 10 regions, including states like Colorado, to modernize our defense industrial base and create good-paying jobs.
“You don’t have to look further than Colorado to see how a strong, interconnected defense tech ecosystem spurs even greater cutting-edge breakthroughs,” said Hickenlooper. “America needs to double down on our innovation advantage to compete with China’s accelerating investments.”
“We cannot deter great power conflict, we cannot protect the American way of life, and we cannot guarantee peace through strength if we cannot build the tools of defense at scale and speed. The United States faces an ever-growing challenge of maintaining our advantage amid rapid advancements and innovations from our foreign adversaries like China, and we must rise to the challenge. With Missouri serving as a key model for this program, I look forward to these tech hubs spreading across the nation to ensure our military is prepared for the next century of technological threats,” said Schmitt.
Specifically, the Defense Technology Hubs Act will:
- Require the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a program to designate and support regional DoD Tech Hubs focused on advancing defense technologies critical to national security.
- Establish the criteria for eligible consortia to receive a DoD Tech Hub, including:
- Capability in defense-relevant technology areas.
- Evidence of regional collaboration and stakeholder commitment.
- Presence of anchor Federal defense institutions or mission-critical military installations that support or utilize emerging defense technologies, particularly in geospatial intelligence, data fusion, and AI.
- Require the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with existing efforts such as DIU, EDA Tech Hubs, DARPA, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines to reinforce the capacity of all programs.
- Bar foreign entities of concern, as identified by DoD in coordination with the intelligence community and consistent with existing federal designations, like Commerce Department’s Entity List.
- Authorize $375 million for fiscal years 2026 – 2030 and include a 1:1 cost sharing requirement with non-federal private and state sources.
“A Defense Technology Hubs program would bolster the nation’s and region’s aerospace leadership through workforce development and economic growth, not to mention building out critical defense systems to protect all Americans,” said Iain Boyd, Director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado Boulder. “The Hub concept recognizes that regional alliances of universities with complementary capabilities can best meet the needs of today’s defense technology challenges.”
Full text of the legislation available HERE.
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