February 3, 2026
Mr. Bell (for himself, Ms. Ross, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. Messmer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To require the Secretary of Defense to establish a network of regional hubs to foster innovation, collaboration, and rapid development of defense-related technologies, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to enhance national security and technological superiority by requiring the Secretary of Defense to establish a network of regional defense technology hubs to foster innovation, collaboration, and rapid development of defense-related technologies to attract talent from across the United States.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Anchor Federal defense institution
The term anchor Federal defense institution means a defense manufacturing facility, an institution of higher education that engages the Department on research, development, testing, and evaluation, or a military installation.
(2) Defense technology hub
The term defense technology hub means a regional hub designated and supported under the Program.
(3) Eligible consortium
The term eligible consortium means a consortium composed of universities, defense contractors, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, independent research entities, and State or local governments.
(4) Emerging technologies
The term emerging technologies means scientific and engineering advancements with potential military applications as identified by the Secretary of Defense.
(5) Program
The term Program means the Defense Technology Hubs Program established under section 4(a).
Sec. 4. Establishment of Defense Technology Hubs Program
(a) Program required
(1) In general
The Secretary of Defense shall establish a program to designate and support regional hubs focused on advancing defense technologies critical to national security.
(2) Designation
The program established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the Defense Technology Hubs Program
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(b) Designation of defense technology hubs
(1) Solicitation of applications
Under the Program, the Secretary shall solicit applications from eligible consortia to be designated as defense technology hubs under the Program.
(2) Submittal of applications
A consortium seeking designation and support as a regional hub under subsection (a)(1) shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(3) Criteria
The Secretary shall select eligible consortia for designation and support under subsection (a)(1) from among those submitting applications pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection using the following criteria:
(A)
Demonstrated capability in defense-relevant technology areas.
(B)
Evidence of regional collaboration and stakeholder commitment.
(C)
Presence of anchor Federal defense institutions or mission-critical installations of the Department that support or are early adopters of emerging defense technologies, such as geospatial intelligence, data fusion, artificial intelligence, autonomy, edge networking and computing, human-machine teaming, and quantum.
(D)
Existence of regional innovation ecosystems with demonstrated success in leveraging Federal, State, and private sector collaboration, such as technology innovation consortia, academic research clusters, and specialized defense accelerators.
(E)
Demonstrated success in developing partnerships and collaborative arrangements with local Federal defense institutions and mission-critical installations for the purposes of advancing research, development, prototyping, and transition of emerging defense technologies.
(F)
Demonstrated success in developing partnership and collaborative arrangements with Federal defense institutions and mission-critical installations in workforce development and training programs to build a skilled pipeline for defense innovation.
(E)
Potential to address Department-identified strategic priorities.
(F)
Economic and workforce development impact.
(4) Geographic distribution
(A) In general
In selecting eligible consortia for designation and support under the Program, the Secretary shall ensure that defense technology hubs are distributed—
(i)
across diverse geographic regions of the United States, with a goal of designating at least 10 defense technology hubs before the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(ii)
to regions in which eligible consortia are co-located with, or readily accessible to, multiple facilities of the Department, including mission-critical installations, to maximize collaboration between eligible consortia and the Department of Defense.
(B) Preference
In considering geographic distribution, the Secretary may give preference to regions with demonstrated strategic relevance to national security missions, including those with newly constructed or expanded Department facilities and intelligence community investments.
(c) Objectives of defense technology hubs
The objectives of a defense technology hub under the Program are as follows:
(1)
To accelerate the research, development, prototyping, and transition to operational use of emerging technologies intended for military applications, such as artificial intelligence, edge networking and computing, quantum technologies, human-machine teaming, hypersonics, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.
(2)
To foster partnerships among components of the Department of Defense, private industry, academic institutions, and State and local governments.
(3)
To address regional defense technology needs while leveraging local expertise, infrastructure, and economic strengths, including proximity to Federal mission partners such as combat support agencies and participation in existing innovation consortia or university-industry alliances.
(4)
To promote workforce development and training programs to build a skilled pipeline for defense innovation including partnerships with research universities, community colleges, and vocational programs.
(5)
To enhance the resilience and security of the defense industrial base.
(d) Grants
(1) Grants authorized
Under the Program, the Secretary may award grants to defense technology hubs.
(2) Use of funds
A defense technology hub receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall use the amounts of the grant for the following purposes:
(A)
As seed funding for establishment of the defense technology hub.
(B)
For research, prototyping, and technology transition projects consistent with the objectives set forth in subsection (c).
(C)
Administrative and evaluation expenses of the defense technology hub relating activities under the Program.
(D)
Establishing and maintaining required security and compliance systems and functions.
(e) Security and compliance requirements
(1) In general
Under the Program, each defense technology hub shall do the following:
(A)
Implement cybersecurity measures consistent with Department cybersecurity standards.
(B)
Ensure all research and technology transfers comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
(C)
Prevent participation by foreign entities of concern, as identified by the Secretary in coordination with the heads of the elements of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) or identified in the Entity List maintained by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce and set forth in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, and consistent with existing Federal designations.
(D)
Establish mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive defense-related research and technology.
(E)
Establish necessary programs, infrastructure, and processes to sponsor, obtain, and hold security clearances for the purposes of enabling classified research, development, and prototyping of emerging defense technologies.
(2) Monitoring and enforcement
The Secretary shall, in coordination with the Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, establish procedures to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirements set forth in paragraph (1).
(f) Intellectual property management
(1) Guidelines required
The Secretary shall develop guidelines under the Program for intellectual property ownership and licensing within the defense technology hubs, balancing national security needs with commercial incentives for private sector participation.
(2) Retention of rights
The guidelines developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include provisions for the Department to retain necessary rights for defense applications while allowing members of consortia that are defense technology hubs to pursue commercial opportunities as may be appropriate.
(g) Funding
(1) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense to carry out the Program $375,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
(2) Availability
Of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization in paragraph (1), $75,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary to award grants under subsection (d).
(3) Federal share
The Federal share of support provided to a defense technology hub under the Program in a fiscal year may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the operations and activities of the defense technology hub under the Program in that fiscal year.
(h) Administration
(1) In general
The Secretary shall administer the Program through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies and in coordination with the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit and the heads of such other elements of the Department as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Waiver of acquisition regulations
For any project of a defense technology hub under the Program that the Secretary determines has a total cost of less than $10,000,000, the Secretary may waive applicable acquisition regulations to expedite development and prototyping, consistent with similar authorities of the Secretary that were in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Annual progress reports
Each defense technology hub shall, not less frequently than once each year, submit to the Secretary an annual progress report detailing technological advancements, partnerships, and economic outcomes.
Sec. 5. Coordination with existing program
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure the Program complements, and does not duplicate, existing efforts such as efforts of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Manufacturing USA Institutes, the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and the Regional Innovation Engines of the National Science Foundation. The Secretary shall, as the Secretary determines appropriate, align defense technology hub activities with existing defense and intelligence infrastructure to maximize the use of established mission platforms and reduce redundant investments, particularly in areas where new Federal campuses are designed to serve as long-term anchors for defense innovation ecosystems.
Sec. 6. Evaluation and reporting
(a) Independent evaluations
The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into a contract with an independent entity to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program annually for the first 5 years of the Program, and biennially thereafter, assessing technology outputs, national security impacts, and return on investment.
(b) Annual reports
Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives an annual report detailing Program activities, defense technology hub performance, and recommendations for improvement to the Program.
Sec. 7. Effective date
The provisions of this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.