The Midwest's Role in America's Technological Future

As the United States crosses its 250th anniversary, the Midwest has an opportunity to remedy an issue the technological world is facing. The world is becoming increasingly dependent on technology produced by a progressively shrinking amount of producers. Rising RAM prices and technology costs in general, caused by companies such as Micron Technologies shifting their focus towards AI, and the overreliance on Taiwan’s production of more than 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, something that has come under threat on the global stage in recent years, highlight the fragility of the current market.1, 2 As the world becomes more reliant on technology for education, employment, and entertainment, the need for chips and hardware is becoming more relevant than ever, a need that the Midwest has the potential to remedy through its educational prowess, its legacy in manufacturing, and its potential for cooperation across the region.

The Midwest’s role in shaping the technological world is not new. For example, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed the browser NCSA Mosaic which was pivotal to the ubiquitous use of the internet.3 That academic strength is continued today with leading engineering programs from universities like UIUC, University of Michigan, Purdue University, and Northwestern. Recently in 2022, Purdue launched America’s first comprehensive Semiconductor degrees program, which will help train future semiconductor engineers.4 By utilizing this network of educational facilities, the Midwest can redirect its influence from software to the hardware that maintains the internet. This can create a skilled workforce with the knowledge and expertise necessary to support manufacturing.

Building on this educational foundation, the Midwest’s past in manufacturing can provide a strong setting for the production of technology hardware. Cities like Detroit and Cleveland, once regarded as hubs for automobile and steel production, have the infrastructure to support manufacturing despite their decline over time.5 These cities retain elements of industrial infrastructure that can be modernized to support the creation of hardware. A clear example is Intel’s $28 billion Ohio One project. Despite delays, Intel has started the creation of two semiconductor factories in New Albany following the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022.6 In addition, the South Korean company SK hynix Inc invested almost 4 billion dollars to build an advanced fabrication and R&D facility for AI chips in the Purdue Research Park.7 Both Intel’s and SK hynix Inc’s investments highlight that private industries see the Midwest as a reliable location for manufacturing.

However, these foundations alone are not enough to ensure success; coordination across the region and the United States as a whole is necessary. While manufacturing is still viewed as essential to the economy, it is often perceived as dangerous, labor-intensive, and poorly compensated in the face of the risks associated.8, 9 Without regional cooperation, States competing for companies could cause a “race to the bottom,” lowering working standards and wages to offer the cheapest deal. This would solidify the sentiment that factory work is completely undesirable and deter participation in a potentially strong workforce. If the Midwest were to realize its potential in manufacturing, regional collaboration is key. States would need to unite to establish policies that standardize working conditions, wages, and tax breaks for companies. This would allow for both the workforce and companies to have the confidence that manufacturing in the region will be worthwhile and stable. The Ohio One project can be cited as an example of the importance of collaboration among governments and private industry, as the Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation have committed $90 million to improving transportation routes to accommodate Intel’s future factories.10

If the Midwest were to capitalize on its potential to become a major manufacturing region, it could reshape the United States’ position in global trade. By increasing production of computer hardware domestically, it could reduce the United States’ reliance on places such as Taiwan, which produces a majority of the world’s semiconductors, amid rising geopolitical tensions. Domestic production of chips and other hardware would not only allow for self-sufficiency, but it could also transform America into a reliable exporter of hardware to trade partners around the world. This could reshape America’s role in the global economy and improve its trade relations. This shift is already reflected as necessary through the CHIPS and Science Act which provided around $52.7 billion to build manufacturing facilities as well as the research and development of chips.11

As America crosses its 250th anniversary, it is presented with an opportunity to reshape how it interacts with the world. The Midwest has the educational background and ability to help turn the United States into a major supplier of hardware for its international partners. However, this would require coordinated policies across the region in order to sustain the workforce and companies’ confidence. The Midwest gave the world the beginnings of the internet, and now it has the potential to change the technological world again, this time through hardware.

• 1

  Micron Technologies, “Micron Announces Exit from Crucial Consumer Business,” Micron Investor Relations, 2025.

• 2

  Robyn Klingler-Vidra, “How Taiwan came to dominate the global chip industry,” King’s College London, Accessed April 26, 2026.

• 3

  National Center for Supercomputing Applications, “NCSA Mosaic™,” University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Accessed April 26, 2026.

• 4

  Purdue News, “Purdue launches nation’s first comprehensive Semiconductor Degrees Program,” Purdue University, May 27, 2022. 

• 5

  Turner, Nick, “10 US cities built up by specialized manufacturing,” Machinery Partner, December 30, 2024.

• 6

  City of New Albany, “Silicon Heartland,” City of New Albany, Ohio, Accessed April 26, 2026.

• 7

  Purdue University Frontiers, “SK hynix to invest nearly $4B in advanced packaging fabrication and R&D facility for AI memory chips,” Purdue University, Accessed April 26, 2026. 

• 8

  Greg Rosalsky, “Why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have?” NPR, May 13, 2025.

• 9

  “Dangers of Serious or Deadly Factory Worker Accidents in Illinois and Indiana,” Allen Law, October 22, 2024.

• 10

  City of New Albany, “Silicon Heartland.”

• 11

  U.S. Congress, CHIPS and Science Act, H.R. 4346, 117th Congress.