Arizona Has a Ways to Go for Science-Tech Driven Growth

A new report by Arizona State University's Morrison Institute stated that "Arizona is not in the Top 10 by any ranking, and does no better than the national average on most indicators." The report also found that Arizona is trailing several neighboring states that traditionally have shown stronger commitments to science and technology.

The Morrison report also referred to the Milken Institute's national study of the economic importance of the science and technology industries in each state. While Colorado ranked second, California third, Washington state sixth and Utah ninth, Arizona ranked only 18th.

What would smart, sustained investment in a high tech future look like in Arizona? The examples of 4 competitor states (California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington) suggest that Arizona needs:

- Lasting, enthusiastic leadership that recognizes the economic value of science and technology

- The right message and strategy to convey the urgency of this matter

- Investment in the creation and sustenance of first-tier research institutions

- More and better mechanisms to improve the transfer of ideas into the marketplace

- A belief that the state can be a leader in science and technology

Download the report here.