What a run Massachusetts is having – the Red Sox take the series, the Pats nearly complete a perfect season, and Garnett and co. bring an NBA championship back to the Celtics. Perhaps even more impressively, for the third consecutive time since 2002, the state ranks first in the Milken Institute’s State Technology and Science Index.
According to the Milken Institute’s report, Massachusetts is in the best position of any state to achieve economic growth because of its vast array of technology and science assets. The state also came out on top the previous two times the index has been published – in 2002 and 2004. Though the number one ranking may be surprising to those who consider places like Silicon Valley more well-known technology hot spots, the ranking certainly makes sense when looking at the eastern state’s devotion to technology. Massachusetts just passed a $1-billion life sciences bill to invest in high-tech infrastructure and research over the next ten years, and the state is rife with prominent research institutes like MIT and Harvard. Massachusetts also scored well ahead of the other states in its ability to leverage assets to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
“This report is great news for Massachusetts and reflects our continuing commitment to the best science and technology,” said Gov. Deval Patrick. “We know that to compete and win in a global economy we need a work force skilled in these areas.”
Other movers in this year’s rankings were Maryland, which hopped from fourth to second, Connecticut, which jumped from tenth to seventh, and New Hampshire, which moved from twelfth to ninth. Rounding out the top ten were Colorado, California, Washington, Virginia, Utah and Rhode Island. But the biggest jumps that took place were outside of the top ten. North Dakota leaped from 45th in 2004 to 31st this year. Largely, that move was the result of initiatives created to provide universities and colleges with funds if they commit to regional development in science and technology. Hawaii also made a big jump, moving from 39th in 2004 to 28th this year.
But, while some states moved forward in their initiatives, others traveled in the opposite direction. While ranking fourth, California actually slipped two positions from 2004 when the state held the second spot. The Milken Institute’s report says the state shows signs of faltering in its efforts to capture federal funding and build its future work force. Another dropper, West Virginia, slid from a low 46th in 2004 to an even lower 49th in 2008. But perhaps no state's science and technology woes are as a bad as Mississippi, which ranked dead last for the second consecutive year.
Individuals can view detailed results of the State Technology and Science Index on the Milken Institute Web site .
