SYRACUSE — U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) has introduced a bill called Endless Frontier Act that he says seeks to “solidify U.S. leadership in scientific and technological innovation” through increased investments in the discovery, creation, and commercialization of critical technology fields, such as cybersecurity. It would also establish new regional technology hubs. The […]
SYRACUSE — U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) has introduced a bill called Endless Frontier Act that he says seeks to “solidify U.S. leadership in scientific and technological innovation” through increased investments in the discovery, creation, and commercialization of critical technology fields, such as cybersecurity.
It would also establish new regional technology hubs.
The Democrat introduced the legislation along with U.S. Senator Todd Young (R–Ind.), U.S. Representative Rohit Khanna (D–Calif.), and U.S. Representative Michael Gallagher (R–Wisc.).
Schumer explained that the Endless Frontier Act is a “necessary investment” into research, education and training, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and the broader U.S. “innovation ecosystem” across the nation.
The lawmaker says that the Endless Frontier Act proposes an expansion of the National Science Foundation (NSF) — to be renamed the National Science and Technology Foundation (NTSF) — and the establishment of a Technology Directorate within NTSF to advance technology in 10 critical focus areas.
The newly-established Technology Directorate would receive $100 billion over five years to lead investment and research in artificial intelligence and machine learning; high-performance computing; robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing; quantum computing; cybersecurity; biotechnology; and semiconductors, Schumer said.
An additional $10 billion would be authorized to designate at least 10 regional technology hubs, awarding funds for comprehensive investment initiatives that position regions across the country to be global centers for the research, development, and manufacturing of key technologies.
“From becoming one of the nation’s first interconnected ‘smart cities’ to investments in the regional STEAM School and a ‘Drone Zone’ at the Tech Garden, Syracuse and Onondaga County are planting seeds to be a major growth hub in the future economy. Along with partners in the private sector and world-class institutions like Syracuse University, Central New York is uniquely positioned to take advantage of any federal investment to establish regional technology hubs as the Endless Frontiers Act aims to do,” Schumer said in a release. STEAM is short for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
“As we emerge from the economic challenges of COVID-19, cities need to focus on long term economic resilience, not just short-term recovery,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh added in the release. “The Endless Frontier Act rightfully recognizes that our country needs more regional hubs for technology innovation to remain competitive globally. Cities like Syracuse and our surrounding region, with leading research universities and a history of investment in emerging technologies, are primed to become the nation’s next technology hubs with additional leadership and support from the federal government.”
A number of New York–based technological organizations and companies have already expressed “strong support” for the Endless Frontier Act, per Schumer’s office. They include Binghamton University; CenterState CEO; Clarkson University; Cornell University; Corning Incorporated; Launch NY; M&T Bank; Rochester Institute of Technology; SUNY Polytechnic Institute; and Syracuse University.
