MISSOULA — Montana is set to receive $41 million in federal funding for the development of a technology hub focused on advancing “smart optical sensing technologies,” as announced by Sen. Jon Tester.
Tester revealed that the Headwaters Tech Hub in Montana is among the 12 Regional Tech Hubs nationwide selected for Phase 2 investment under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. This legislation aims to incentivize certain industries like chip-making to return to the U.S. instead of relying on countries like China. The “smart optical sensing technologies” developed in Montana will address critical needs such as autonomous systems, national defense, precision agriculture, and resource management.
Although the specific allocation and job creation details in Montana are still unclear, other states have identified specific companies benefiting from the CHIPS and Science Act funding. The University of Montana, Montana State University, Salish Kootenai College, and the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance are all expected to benefit from this funding.
The tech hub will be led by Accelerate Montana, based on the University of Montana campus in Missoula, with Bozeman and Montana State University likely to receive a significant portion of the funding due to the presence of photonics companies in the area.
Tester emphasized Montana’s potential for technological innovation and economic growth, stating that the state has the capabilities to lead the nation in these areas. He highlighted the importance of securing investments to ensure America’s competitiveness against countries like China.
Montana’s selection as one of the 31 places for the “tech hub” designation out of 198 applicants was supported by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who praised Montana’s workforce quality and contribution to cutting-edge technology research.
David Erickson serves as the business reporter for the Missoulian.
