FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact:
Kim Blomquist
872.222.5279
kim@mhub.org
Governor JB Pritzker announces $7M in Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants, including $590,200 for mHUB to build 4,000 SF Deep Tech Innovation Lab to support breakthroughs in quantum, energy, life sciences, microelectronics, and medtech
(CHICAGO - July 15, 2025) – The mHUB innovation center for hardtech commercialization will deliver 4,000 SF of purpose-built lab space designed to accommodate advanced research and development, made possible by a $590,200 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Funding for the Deep Tech Innovation Lab comes from the Tech Incubator Enhancement Grants (TIEG) program, which was designed to modernize and revitalize tech incubators across Illinois to meet the evolving needs of startups while aligning to key growth industries for the State.
Chicago continues to see a rise in deep tech startup activity, driven by new investment funds and increased infrastructure development. Nearly 50% of startups currently in the mHUB community are working on deep tech innovations, and over a dozen are actively seeking clean lab space to continue scaling prototypes and production.
The mHUB project will fill a current infrastructure gap in the affordable, controlled environments needed by startups working in quantum, energy, life sciences, microelectronics, and med tech. The organization will transform existing flexible office space into wet and dry lab facilities that will be built to Class 9 cleanroom standards, including private lab spaces. Users of the Deep Tech Innovation Lab will benefit from being nestled within the existing innovation community at mHUB.
“Illinois has long been a hub for technological breakthroughs, but a persistent gap remains in access to the specialized facilities deep tech startups need to develop, test, and scale their technologies,” said Manas Mehandru, mHUB Chief Operating Officer. “mHUB thanks the State of Illinois for recognizing this need and investing in the spaces required to ensure deep tech startups have everything necessary to scale, without having to leave Illinois.”
mHUB will contribute matching funds to equip the facility with advanced tools such as test chambers, universal test stands, programmable test benches with mainframe modules, vacuum pumps, regenerative grid simulators, solar array simulators, fume hoods, and sophisticated data collection tools. This will allow for high-precision testing and development across a range of disciplines.
Construction of the Deep Tech Innovation Lab will commence immediately with an expected completion date before the end of the year. Innovators interested in the new labs can join the mHUB community now to begin accessing its existing hyper-resourced prototyping labs, mentor and curriculum network, highly skilled talent pool, and a thriving community of entrepreneurs motivating entrepreneurs.
To learn more about mHUB membership and the Deep Tech Innovation Lab, visit: Become a Member
Read the DCEO announcement regarding projects funded through the Tech Incubator Enhancements Grants program: press release.
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About mHUB
mHUB is a leading independent hardtech and manufacturing innovation center enabling the commercialization of solutions that impact humanity and strengthening U.S. based manufacturing. The mHUB community includes over 500 active and alumni startups and small businesses supported by a deep talent pool of product designers and developers, entrepreneurs and engineers, manufacturers and corporate leaders, mentors, and investors. mHUB provides a hyper-resourced environment to entrepreneurs with the goal of commercializing new hardtech innovation that will lead to new businesses, intellectual property, investment, revenue, and job creation. Since launching in 2017, the mHUB community has generated more than $1.96B in revenue, launched more than 1,700 products, hired more than 6,800 employees, and raised over $2B in capital. To date, mHUB has invested in 54 startups across smart and sustainable manufacturing, energy tech, and medtech. Learn more