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Regional Innovation Cluster solicitation is now closed
The fiscal year 2024 solicitation for the Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) initiative closed on July 26, 2024. SBA is currently reviewing proposals and will announce new RICs by September 30, 2024.
List of Regional Innovation Clusters
RICs build business support networks. They help small business start and grow. RICs can provide services like accelerators, incubators, and market research. They can also help with contracts and exporting.
Want to work with a RIC? Find one that focuses on your field or region below:
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Innovation Center
Region served: Missouri
Technologies/Industries supported: Pharmaceutical, medical supply chain
Defense Alliance
Region served: Upper Midwest (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin)
Technologies/Industries supported: Defense, aerospace, high-technology for both federal and commercial markets
The eidotech project
Region served: Montana
Technologies/Industries supported: Smart sensing systems, photonics
Larta Institute
Region served: Greater Los Angeles Area
Technologies/Industries supported: Health impact in bioscience and healthcare, AI in healthcare, sustainability
Mid-South MS Delta Ag Innovation Cluster
Region served: Mid-South Delta region along the Mississippi River (counties in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee)
Technologies/Industries supported: Early-stage agtechnologies and agri-food value chain businesses, including but not limited to:
- specialty crops, including new grains for beverage and food markets
- regenerative and organic agriculture and carbon markets
- new uses for forestry products
- pasture-raised livestock
- local value-added products
- farm-to-market opportunities leveraging novel technologies
- bioenergy
Pacific Northwest Agri-Food Cluster
Region served: Willamette Valley region (counties in Oregon and Washington)
Technologies/Industries supported: Early-stage agtechnologies and agri-food value chain businesses, including but not limited to:
- specialty crops, including new grains for beverage and food markets
- regenerative and organic agriculture and carbon markets
- new uses for forestry products
- pasture-raised livestock
- local value-added products
- farm-to-market opportunities leveraging novel technologies
- bioenergy
New Jersey Cybersecurity Regional Cluster
Region served: Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut)
Technologies/Industries supported: IT, cybersecurity
Startup Junkie Consulting, LLC
Region served: Ozark region (counties in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma)
Technologies/Industries supported:
- Retail/retail technology
- Food/food technology
- Supply chain/supply chain technology
- Artificial intelligence/machine learning
- Cybersecurity
- Health tech
Southern Appalachian Agri-Food Cluster
Region served: Southern Appalachian region (counties in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia)
Technologies/Industries supported: Early-stage agtechnologies and agri-food value chain businesses, including but not limited to:
- specialty crops, including new grains for beverage and food markets
- regenerative and organic agriculture and carbon markets
- new uses for forestry products
- pasture-raised livestock
- local value-added products
- farm-to-market opportunities leveraging novel technologies
- bioenergy
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Cluster
Region served: Oklahoma
Technologies/Industries supported: Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
Unmanned Coast
Region served: Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama
Technologies/Industries supported: Unmanned maritime systems
Need help?
You can learn more about RICs through the most recent solicitation and awards. If you have any questions about RICs or about accessing services from a RIC, please email RICs@sba.gov.
RICs are managed by SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation (OII).