Science Foundation Arizona Efforts have Added Jobs and Investments to State, According to Battelle Report

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) has stimulated the state's job creation and increased the amount of additional funds leveraged, according to a report by Battelle. In 2010, SFAz-funded programs led to over 1,150 new jobs, 84 patents and 16 new companies. For every $1.00 awarded by SFAz, an additional $3.06 was matched by an outside source (e.g., federal grants, industry, and venture capital). SFAz's leveraging has increased progressively over the last three years. The report also looked at the state's position in technology development and found several positives including: higher than average salaries for technology workers; lower unemployment in these sectors; and, strong gains in university R&D expenditures. However, according to the report, SFAz and the state should focus on developing a talented workforce and increasing the state's digital infrastructure. In comparison to national averages and 12 other benchmark states averages — including Colorado, Utah and Washington — Arizona lags behind national and benchmark state averages in access to school technology and STEM education. Read the report...