A new statewide coalition led by the Wisconsin Technology Council looks to bolster the state’s frontier technology and startup ecosystem.
The Wisconsin Frontier Technology Consortium is supported through a $950,000 grant awarded by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. as part of the state’s Ignite Wisconsin program.
Th consortium includes the Wisconsin Technology Council, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, gener8tor, Waukesha County Technical College and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
The partnership was formed to align research institutions, startup accelerators, technical colleges and industry networks around the development and commercialization and scaling of emerging technologies.
Maggie Brickerman. Image submitted by Wisconsin Tech Council.
“This consortium reflects Wisconsin’s collaborative approach to innovation,” said Maggie Brickerman, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “By aligning our research strengths, startup support systems and industry networks, we can accelerate commercialization and support the growth of high-impact companies across the state.”
The Wisconsin Frontier Technology Consortium aims to accelerate commercialization of frontier technologies, including AI, robotics, advanced materials, and quantum computing.
The initiative will establish the Wisconsin Frontier Technology Lab to connect researchers and industry for collaborative technology development, launch the Wisconsin Frontier Technology Accelerator to support early-stage high-growth startups with mentorship and investor access, and convene the Wisconsin Frontier Technology Roundtable to strengthen partnerships and address challenges.
The consortium expects to support 24 early-stage startups in two years, host four Frontier Technology Labs and four statewide roundtables, engage researchers, industry leaders, and investors, provide grants for technology development, generate early-stage investments, create more than 50 jobs, and raise Wisconsin’s profile as a technology leader.
“Frontier technologies like AI, robotics, advanced materials, and quantum computing represent some of the fastest-growing opportunities in today’s economy,” said John Miller, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “By supporting the Wisconsin Frontier Technology Consortium, we’re ensuring Wisconsin’s researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders can work together to bring these breakthrough innovations to market. This effort will expand our startup pipeline, strengthen industry competitiveness, and position Wisconsin as a national leader in emerging technologies.”
The project is scheduled to begin in March 2026 and run through May 2028, with activities taking place statewide.
