Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Mass., R.I. lead New England in national tech economy rankings

By Mass High Tech Staff

Massachusetts is leading the way to the “new economy,” but Rhode Island was the fastest climber in New England, according to a report released by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

Massachusetts headed up the “overall,” “knowledge jobs,” “digital economy” and “innovation capacity” categories in the 2008 State New Economy Index, which ranks states on their success in working with innovative, entrepreneurial, technology-based and globalized growth industries offering high-wage jobs.

Rhode Island shot to No. 4 in the digital economy category, up from its No. 24 spot in last year’s ranking. The Ocean State also came in second in adoption of broadband Internet, second in health IT, 11th overall and 15th in knowledge jobs. Rhode Island also made the biggest jump in the inventor patents category, to No. 6.

Massachusetts placed second behind Utah in the “economic dynamism” category. Massachusetts also led the “workforce education” category. The study listed the Bay State’s concentration of software, hardware and biotech firms, world-class universities and high-levels of entrepreneurship as reasons for its place atop the list.

Other New England states also fared well in the report.

Connecticut ranked sixth overall, second in knowledge jobs and ninth in digital economy. New Hampshire ranked 10th in knowledge jobs, 11th in digital economy and 13th overall. The report listed Vermont at No. 5 in workforce education and No. 19 overall, while Maine ranked No. 28 overall.

See the report from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.