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Washington Tech. Center Releases Innovation and Technology Index
The Washington Technology Center has released its first annual Index of Innovation and Technology. The report examines 34 performance indicators in six broad areas: Innovation, Competitiveness, Growth, Financial Capacity, Human Potential, Quality of Life, and Internet Infrastructure. For each indicator, Washington is compared to several other states or to national averages.
Six summary findings or recommendations are made in major areas that government, education, and industry must focus upon to ensure the state's continued economic success. They include:
- continuation of support for Washington's young and growing companies to ensure that the state's economy continues to grow
- expansion of the technology workforce and more equal distribution of technology workers throughout the state
- increased capital investment to meet companies' needs
- increased total capital investment to maintain Washington's impact on the national technology economy
- expansion of technology programs in the state's higher education system to supply an adequate number of skilled workers, and
- alleviation of traffic problems that can limit future economic growth in the state's urban areas
Washington becomes at least the fifth state to prepare a state innovation index; other states that have include Kansas, Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Regional and national indices also have been prepared.
Included in the Washington Index is the definition of "technology industries" the Washington Technology Center used for several indicators and a matrix displaying the technology industry SIC codes used by four other studies, including the Milken Institute's America's High-Tech Economy: Growth, Development and Risks for Metropolitan Areas, and the American Electronics Association's CyberStates V3.0.
Copies of the 2000 Index of Innovation and Technology are available from the Washington Technology Center's website at http://www.watechcenter.org or by calling 206/685-1920.
Washington