Delaware is at the center of the Mid-Atlantic — a region that is home to about 60 million people, or about one fifth of the entire U.S. population. More than 150 colleges and universities are nearby. Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and New York are all just a short drive away on I-95.
At the same time, Delaware is a small state where startup founders rub elbows with U.S. Senators, and help from industry veterans is always just a phone call away. Backing up that anecdotal evidence are some solid statistics: on the Milken Institute’s index of entrepreneurial capacity and infrastructure, Delaware ranks #1 out of all 50 states — higher than California, Massachusetts or North Carolina. Delaware also ranks #6 on a list of the best innovation environments in the country, compiled by WalletHub.
In fact, that powerful combination of small-state accessibility and economic-powerhouse convenience has put Delaware at the center of innovation in a number of industries that will power the future of theU.S. and the globe.
Delaware teamed up with south-eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey to form MACH2 — the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub — which will receive $750 in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to help build a clean-energy future for the U.S.
Delaware is also part of a region that was recently named a Precision Medicine Tech Hub — a designation that will unlock up to $70 million in funding to develop advances in biotechnology, genomics, synthetic biology, robotics and more.
But that’s only scratching the surface. Delaware is also a leader in the emerging ocean-focused blue economy, in data science and in pharmaceuticals. Much of this innovation power is concentrated at theUniversity of Delaware (UD),whose level of research activity puts it within the top 3% of all U.S. colleges. UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus is home to innovation powerhouses like the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute.
In turn, the presence of such renowned institutions attracts major employers in those fields. WuXi STA, a contract research and manufacturing company, is working on a major pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Delaware that will create 500 full-time jobs by 2026.
Also on the STAR Campus, the FinTech Innovation Hub building is one of the nation’s preeminent institutions for research and innovation in financial technology. Created through a partnership between public and private institutions, the Hub has become a nexus of collaboration on groundbreaking research that aims to create a future where access to credit is fair and equitable.
UD and Delaware’s other major research institution, Delaware State University, are also powerhouses when it comes to supporting entrepreneurial activity —including beyond the boundaries of their own campuses. You’ll learn more about this and many other facets of innovative activity in Delaware in the section that follows.
You may have heard that Delaware is known as The First State because we were first to sign the U.S. Constitution. But Delaware is hardly content to rest on those laurels — according to a late 2023 announcement by Gov. John Carney, the state is also on track to become the first state to connect every home and business to high-speed internet.
Wherever the future of innovation leads — Delaware will be among the first ones there.
Powering Delaware: The Opportunity ofGreen Hydrogen in Delaware
We are in exciting times and the “First State” of the Union, is poised to become a leader in a new energy frontier: green hydrogen. This clean-burning fuel, produced using renewable electricity, offers a powerful solution to combat climate change and transform Delaware’s economy. With these concepts in mind, First State Hydrogen was formed in 2023. We are focused on the multifaceted benefits of green hydrogen for Delaware, especially its environmental advantages, economic opportunities, and its potential to solidify the state’s position as a clean energy leader. At First State Hydrogen, Inc., our mission is to provide affordable and profitable clean hydrogen for American energy independence.
Unlike traditional “grey” hydrogen produced using fossil fuels, green hydrogen boasts a zero-carbon footprint at the point of use. This clean-burning fuel can be utilized in various sectors, from transportation powered by hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to industrial processes currently reliant on fossil fuels. By transitioning to green hydrogen, FIRST STATE HYDROGEN can be THE leader in the Mid-Atlantic region and help DELAWARE MANUFACTURERS significantly reduce their carbon footprint while meeting their sustainability goals.
Our central location between Washington DC and New York City means we are close to potential end users, and furthermore, the political climate in our state is primed to capitalize on this opportunity with House Bill 99 that calls for 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and 100% reduction in 2050.
Contact us to partner with First StateHydrogen, transforming the economy and improving the lives of people in the Mid-Atlantic region.
A Brighter Future for Our Region
Fighting climate change and improving public health will require a full suite of clean energy solutions. Approximately 30% of emissions come from hard-to-abate industries including the manufacturing of cement and steel, the production of ammonia and heavy transportation. While some form of electrification is the right tool to decarbonize most of our economy, it is not practical or possible to fully decarbonize these sectors that are more energy intensive. Clean hydrogen allows for a practical and efficient way to both provide and store the energy needed for these intensive applications.
In addition to the climate and public health benefits of decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries, MACH2 will serve as a hub of innovation and economic opportunity in the clean energy economy. Our partnerships with area universities and workforce development boards will create a talent pipeline from our local communities to the clean energy economy while helping to further the objectives of the Biden Administration’s Justice 40 Initiative, thus ensuring 40% of overall benefits of this initiative to communities that have historically been disadvantaged by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Indeed, community engagement sits at the forefront of our mission.
As we work to enter a new, clean energy future, MACH2 is poised to lead the charge in revolutionizing our energy infrastructure. By leveraging federal support and fostering strong community partnerships, MACH2 represents a generational investment in the health of our communities and economic opportunity.
