National Tech Hub Leaders to Convene in Wisconsin as Federal Tech Hubs Network Expands
Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub will welcome leaders from across the national network to Milwaukee during the BioForward 2026 Wisconsin Biohealth Summit
MADISON/MILWAUKEE, Wis. — October 5, 2026 — As federal investment continues to expand the national Tech Hubs network, Wisconsin will bring leaders from several federally designated Tech Hubs together in Milwaukee next month to share strategies, explore opportunities for collaboration and highlight the role regional innovation ecosystems can play in strengthening U.S. competitiveness.
In July, the U.S. Economic Development Administration announced its intent to invest $169 million across six additional Tech Hubs, expanding implementation funding into areas including pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing, quantum technology, critical materials and advanced manufacturing.
The announcement builds on the first round of implementation awards, which included approximately $49 million for the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub to advance personalized medicine through connected initiatives spanning health data, screening, image-guided therapy, workforce development and commercialization.
That growing national network will come together in Wisconsin during BioForward’s 2026 Wisconsin Biohealth Summit, October 21–22 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, where representatives from Tech Hubs across the Midwest and beyond will participate in Summit programming and informal opportunities to connect around shared challenges and complementary strengths.
“Tech Hubs are built around the idea that regions can lead globally by bringing together the strengths they already have across industry, research, workforce, healthcare and economic development,” said Wendy Harris, Regional Innovation Officer for the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub. “Wisconsin has tremendous strengths in personalized medicine, medical technology, imaging, data and advanced manufacturing. Bringing Tech Hub leaders together here gives us an opportunity to share what is working, learn from one another and identify places where our regional capabilities can be even stronger when connected nationally.”
Tech Hubs expected to be represented in Milwaukee include:
• Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub — advancing personalized medicine through health data, screening, image-guided therapy, commercialization and workforce development.
• Heartland BioWorks (Indiana) — expanding biotechnology and biomanufacturing capacity to accelerate the development and production of life-saving medicines.
• Kansas City BioSecure Manufacturing Tech Hub (Kansas and Missouri) — modernizing biologics manufacturing and strengthening domestic supply chains.
• Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Tech Hub (Virginia) — developing and scaling advanced, AI-enabled domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Minnesota MedTech Hub 3.0 — bringing medical devices, advanced microelectronics and artificial intelligence together to advance smart medtech.
• Bloch Quantum Tech Hub (Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin) — scaling U.S. production of quantum materials, components and subsystems.
National Tech Hub Leaders Take the Summit Stage
The national connections will be highlighted during the Tech Hub Session: National Tech Hubs Update on October 22 from 10:00–10:50 a.m.
Leaders from Heartland BioWorks and the Kansas City BioSecure Manufacturing Tech Hub will join the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub for a discussion about how their regions are advancing biotechnology, biomanufacturing, workforce development and pharmaceutical production.
The conversation will explore where regional strategies and strengths intersect and how collaboration across Tech Hubs could help expand U.S. biomanufacturing capacity, accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic supply chains and increase national competitiveness.
Later that day, Inside the Science Driving the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub, from 1:30–2:20 p.m., will turn the focus to three signature Wisconsin projects.
Leaders from the Medical College of Wisconsin, UW–Madison and GE HealthCare will provide an inside look at Screening for Life, the Wisconsin Health Data Hub and Image-Guided Personalized Therapy, including progress toward key goals and how the projects are working together to advance personalized medicine in Wisconsin.
Summit attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the Screening for Life mobile screening unit onsite, offering a firsthand look at one of the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub initiatives moving from development into community implementation.
The Tech Hub sessions are part of BioForward’s 2026 Wisconsin Biohealth Summit, themed From Molecule to Medicine: Delivering Successful Patient Outcomes. The 1.5-day event brings together leaders from across biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, medical technology, healthcare, research, manufacturing, investment and economic development.
2026 Wisconsin Biohealth Summit
October 21–22, 2026
Baird Center | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Registration and additional information are available at: https://reg.eventmobi.com/2026-wisconsin-biohealth-summit
Media Opportunities
Members of the media interested in covering the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub, interviewing participating Tech Hub leaders or arranging a tour of the Screening for Life mobile unit during the Summit may contact BioForward Wisconsin.
About the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub
Led by BioForward Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub is a statewide consortium bringing together industry, healthcare, research, workforce, education, economic development and government partners to position Wisconsin as a global leader in personalized medicine. The Hub was selected by the U.S. Economic Development Administration for approximately $49 million in implementation funding in 2024 and is advancing interconnected initiatives focused on health data, mobile screening, image-guided personalized therapy, commercialization and workforce development.
About BioForward Wisconsin
BioForward Wisconsin is the collective voice of Wisconsin’s biohealth industry, representing more than 250 member organizations across biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, research, healthcare and the supporting ecosystem. BioForward Wisconsin serves as the lead organization for the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub.
MEDIA CONTACT
Rissa Guffey
Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
BioForward Wisconsin
rguffey@bioforward.org
(317) 417-9353 (cell)
