The University of Wisconsin–Madison has joined a statewide consortium of 15 public and private partners, mobilizing its experience and expertise as a collaborative powerhouse in bioscience and technology to help bolster Wisconsin’s leadership in personalized medicine and biohealth technology.

Announced by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation on Aug. 16, the consortium will bring together educational institutions, biohealth companies, precision manufacturers, and investors to develop and facilitate shared initiatives and to pursue designation by the federal Economic Development Administration as a Regional Tech Hub. The designation would give Wisconsin access to $50-75 million in federal funds under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

“The University of Wisconsin–Madison is delighted to collaborate in this critical project and to be a partner in this ambitious vision to improve both the health and the economic vibrancy of our state,” says UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin. “It’s the epitome of the Wisconsin Idea: working in partnership to drive forward innovation, world class research and broad-ranging opportunity for the public good.”

The creation of the consortium — and pursuit of the Regional Tech Hub designation — aims to foster new technologies and care pathways that will improve care for patients while growing Wisconsin’s economy. The group will leverage Wisconsin’s momentum in the growing biohealth technology space and facilitate collaboration that spurs economic growth in the state, creates good-paying jobs and advances health care and personalized medicine to save lives and reduce health care costs.