Washington state creating most high-tech firms
- By Dan Caterinicchia, Dan Caterinicchia
- Mar 15, 2000
The state of Washington leads the nation in the creation rate of new high-tech
companies, according to a report released last week by the Washington Technology
Center.
The report, "The Index of Innovation and Technology for Washington State,"
found the rate of new company creation in the state is more than 20 percent
higher than in California, the next state on the list. The expansion of
these new companies also resulted in Washington leading the country in the
growth of technology employment by startup firms.
The state legislature established Washington Technology Center in 1983 to
spur economic growth and help technology companies create more jobs.
"The data emphasizes the need to support small technology companies since
they have been the engine for growth and diversification in Washington's
high-tech industries," Lee Cheatham, WTC executive director and co-author
of the report, said in a release.
The index also found that Washington ranks third behind California and Texas
in export value of products; that the state ranks 21st in the number of
science/technology degrees granted; and that the rate of job creation in
Washington's startup companies is the sixth highest in the nation.
The report is the first of its kind for the state and includes comparative
data from more than 30 sources that will serve as a benchmark for assessing
Washington's progress in a technology-based economy.
The report can be found online at www.watechcenter.org.