Virginia Named “Top 10″ State for Science
Virginia is ranked as one of the nation’s top ten states for science and technology in the Milken Institute’s “2008 State Technology and Science Index.”
According to the report, regional competition for technology industries has increased since the last release of the Index in 2004. Not only are states vying with each other for human capital and resources, but countries like China and India are increasing the competition on a global level.
At the same time, the post-9/11 decrease in international graduate students and flat or decreased federal funding for research and development are applying negative pressure to states that are not making serious investments to build and retain these 21st century industries.
“States that have a vision and a plan for building and retaining high-wage jobs and viable industries are finding ways to invest in their science and technology assets,” said Ross DeVol, director of Regional Economics at the Milken Institute, and lead author of the study. “The changes in this year’s Index give a good measure of who is ahead in the increasing competition for scarce human capital and other resources needed for a successful industry.”
According to the report, “Virginia, coming in 6th overall, records its best performance in the Technology Concentration and Dynamism Composite Index (where the state finishes 3rd). It achieves 2nd-place finishes in the components for percentage of high-tech establishment births and percentage of establishments in high-tech industries. Virginia, with a number of high-tech government contractors, ranks 5th in the Technology and Science Work Force Composite Index. The state has been actively seeking to bolster its future technical work force, enlisting the Virginia Biotechnology Association and the Virginia Manufacturers Association to lead a statewide effort to recruit, train, and certify skilled manufacturing technicians.”
The states in the best position to succeed in the technology-led information age are (with 2004 rankings):
1) Massachusetts (1)
2) Maryland (4)
3) Colorado (3)
4) California (2)
5) Washington (6)
6) Virginia (5)
7) Connecticut (10)
Utah (9)
9) New Hampshire (12)
10) Rhode Island (11)
The 2008 State Technology and Science Index looks at 77 unique indicators that are categorized into five major components: Research and Development Inputs, Risk Capital and Entrepreneurial Infrastructure, Human Capital Investment, Technology and Science Work Force, and Technology Concentration and Dynamism. It is one of the most comprehensive examinations of state technology and science assets ever compiled.
