Empowering Innovation Ecosystems Across Massachusetts
The Massachusetts TechHubs Program (MA TechHubs) is a place-based economic development initiative intended to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems across Massachusetts. The program will designate regions as TechHubs to recognize their capacity for leadership in innovation-driven economic development and to enhance their visibility as centers of technological progress and opportunity. Through TechHub designations and strategic investments in infrastructure and scaling companies, the program aims to bridge regional disparities in innovation capacity to foster technology development, advance high-growth industries, and drive equitable economic growth.
Context
MA TechHubs was established as part of the state’s 2024 economic development bill – the Mass Leads Act - to provide grants to regional communities demonstrating potential to strengthen the state’s leadership in key emerging technology sectors. It aims to bridge gaps in ecosystem readiness, foster the growth of innovative local companies, and ensure that all communities can participate in and contribute to the state’s robust innovation economy.
Program Goals
The MA TechHubs Program aims to designate regional TechHubs outside traditional technology centers. These TechHubs will align industry, academia and government towards a common mission of accelerating the growth of strategically important industry sectors or emerging technology clusters. The program goals are:
- Enhance Regional Competitiveness;
- Support Scaling Companies; and
- Drive Inclusive and Equitable Job Growth.
Primary Focus Areas
Applicants may choose to focus on a specific sector, technology or a combination of sectors and technologies. Below is a non-exhaustive list of priority industry and technology areas. Please note the list is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to codify definitions for “industry sectors” or “emerging technology areas."
| Industry Sectors | Emerging Technology Areas |
|---|---|
| Advanced Manufacturing | Advanced Materials |
| Aerospace & Defense | Artificial Intelligence (AI) |
| Bioindustrial Manufacturing | Blockchain |
| Nontherapeutic Biomanufacturing | Immersive Technologies (AR/VR) |
| Cybersecurity | Optics & Photonics |
| Digital Health | Quantum Technologies |
| FinTech | Robotics |
| Marine Technology |
About the MA TechHub Designation
A MA TechHub represents a geographically cohesive region that demonstrates the capacity to drive innovation through its distinct combination of assets, partnerships and industry or technology focus areas. By becoming a designated MA TechHub, regions join a network of ecosystem builders sharing resources, best practices and opportunities for growth. This designation enhances a region's visibility and credibility as an emerging or established center of innovation, helping to attract external partners, investments and talent.
Funding Opportunities
MA TechHubs offers three distinct application tracks, each tailored to meet the varying needs of regions at different stages of ecosystem development.
This non-funding track provides an official MA TechHub designation for regions demonstrating significant innovation capacity or potential to develop significant innovation capacity. Designation offers increased visibility, credibility and recognition, helping regions attract partners, investment and talent.
This funding track supports regions aiming to develop or refine their strategic plans for innovation-driven economic growth. Grants of up to $100,000 fund activities such as stakeholder engagement, ecosystem assessment and the development of strategic plans. All recipients of Strategy Development Grants automatically receive the MA TechHub designation in addition to strategy development funding.
This funding track is designed to support regions ready to execute transformative large-scale projects aimed at enhancing their innovation ecosystems. Transformation Grants provide up to $5 million in funding over a period of up to three years and are intended to fund two-five projects that enhance innovation infrastructure, promote the development of local high-growth scaling companies, catalyze technology commercialization, and/or foster workforce development.
Eligibility & Partnerships
The lead or primary applicant for all program tracks must be a not-for-profit entity legally organized in Massachusetts. Eligible lead applicants include economic development agencies, local governments, colleges, universities, incubators, accelerators, and other nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated commitment to advancing regional economic development and innovation.
Applicants are required to develop a partnership model including a diverse set of stakeholders, including but not limited to:
- academic or research institutions;
- private companies (including startups, scaling companies, small-to-medium sized enterprises, supply chain and service organization, and large corporations);
- local government;
- economic development agencies;
- entrepreneur support organizations;
- workforce development organizations; and
- other community-based entities.
Key Dates
- Application Period Opens: February 18, 2025
- Informational Webinar: February 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. EST
- Questions Due: March 3, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. EST
- Application Deadline: March 28, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. EST
- Invitation to Submit Full Application (Transformation Grants only): April 18, 2025
- Full Transformation Grant Applications Due: May 16, 2025
- Award Notification:
- Designations & Strategy Development Grants – by the end of May 2025
- Transformation Grants – by the end of July 2025
Informational Webinar
Join us on Wednesday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m. EST for an informational webinar to learn more. We will provide an overview of the application process, discuss eligibility requirements, and answer your questions in real time.
Apply
To apply, submit your completed application electronically by Friday, March 28 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Applicants are encouraged to read the NOFO carefully and conform to its requirements.