A record-breaking 15 states earned top honors as Innovation Champions –
the nation’s best states to start and build technology businesses – in
the Consumer Technology Association’s (CTA)® 2020 U.S. Innovation
Scorecard.
The biennial Scorecard, which ranks all 50 states on how well their
policies support innovation, named Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Utah, Virginia and Washington as
repeat Champions from the 2018 Scorecard. Five states from the Heartland
of America – Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska – joined
this year’s Innovation Champion ranks. For the first time, the
Scorecard’s 12 grading criteria include states’ efforts around workforce
development and 5G deployment.
“This list proves that American innovation is not confined to the
coasts. We’re proud to recognize those states doing the most to unleash
innovation and fulfill the potential of technology—creating jobs,
powering our economy and delivering life-changing benefits,” said Gary
Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “Our Scorecard emphasizes
forward-thinking policies proven to help today’s innovators create a
better future. That’s why, this year, we began measuring how well states
enable 5G connectivity – the platform for emerging technologies from
smart cities to digital health – and what they’re doing develop the
workforce of the future.”
These 15 states have done the most to foster innovation
including educating their populations in critical scientific and
engineering fields, maintaining friendly tax policies and giving
innovators freedom from burdensome rules. Learn more about the U.S.
Innovation Scorecard and see all state rankings here.
Among the 2020 U.S. Innovation Scorecard’s other findings:
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States are giving out more advanced degrees. Since the 2018
U.S. Scorecard, the percentage of residents over the age 25 who hold
advanced degrees has increased in 48 states and held steady in the
remaining two. -
Indiana has most tech job growth among small firms. Indiana
was the only 2020 Innovation Champion, and one of only three states
overall, to see an increase in the number of jobs created by firms
with fewer than 50 employees over a five-year period. -
Iowa was one of the only states to earn top marks in the Best &
Brightest category. The state passed legislation that protects
workers from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and
gender identity. -
Per capita venture capital investment in Kansas-based companies
nearly doubled. Since the 2018 U.S. Innovation Scorecard, per
capita venture capital investment increased statewide by almost
two-thirds, from $13.58 to $21.98. -
Massachusetts ranked first overall for tech jobs per capita.
The commonwealth edged out second-place California with nearly 56 tech
jobs per 1,000 residents.
Overview and Methodology:
CTA evaluated all 50 states to determine which are doing the most to
foster innovation. States are graded on 12 quantitative and qualitative
categories including internet speed and cost, STEM education and support
for disruptive technologies including self-driving vehicles, drones and
e-scooters.
The states are then ranked in one of four ascending tiers: Modest
Innovators, Innovation Adopters, Innovation Leaders and the highest
level, Innovation Champions. To explore the full report and read
state-by-state profiles, visit www.CTA.tech/Scorecard.
Consumer Technology Association:
As North America’s largest technology trade association, CTA® is the
tech sector. Our members are the world’s leading innovators – from
startups to global brands – helping support more than 18 million
American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES® – the largest, most
influential tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech.
Follow us @CTAtech.
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