The United States is one of the most innovative countries in the world. It attracts educated and talented people from all over the globe. Bloomberg has published its 2019 US State Innovation Index ranking all the 50 states based on how innovative they are. The publication took into account six “equally-weighted” metrics such as productivity, R&D intensity, cluster of technology companies, patent activity, percentage of population with degrees in science and engineering, and STEM jobs. Here we take a look at the top 10 most innovative states in the US based on Bloomberg’s latest innovation index.
Ranked: The most innovative states in the US
10- Colorado
Colorado is the only landlocked state in the top 10 with an overall score of 71.3. Out of the remaining nine, three are on the Pacific coast and six are on the Atlantic coast. The state ranks highly in educational attainment and density of technology companies. Colorado has been actively boosting its startup ecosystem and promoting commercialization. The Centennial State is also home to several prominent institutions that attract skilled workers.
9- New Jersey
New Jersey is the ninth most innovative state in the country with an overall score of 72.8. It ranks highly in terms of productivity and the number of science and engineering degree holders. New Jersey is home to nearly a dozen Fortune 500 companies. It also has many notable educational institutions including Princeton University.
8- New Hampshire
New Hampshire received an overall score of 73.1 on the Innovation Index. The state ranked fourth in patent activity and 10th in the percentage of popular with science and engineering degrees. New Hampshire is home to many reputed educational institutions including Dartmouth College.
7- Oregon
Oregon ranks second in patent activity and sixth in terms of population with science and engineering degrees. It received an overall score of 73.9. Technology giants including Intel, Google, and Amazon have a strong presence in the state. Oregon is also home to Nike headquarters.
6- Delaware
Delaware jumped six places from 12th in 2016 to 6th in the latest ranking. It is home to the chemical giant DuPont. Delaware was ranked 3rd in terms of productivity, 7th in R&D intensity, and 5th in concentration of technology companies. The state is considered a corporate haven because of its business-friendly corporate laws. Delaware received an overall score of 76.7.
5- Maryland
Maryland is the best state in the country when it comes to the concentration of STEM jobs. It was ranked 3rd in terms of R&D intensity, density of technology companies, and density of science and engineering degree holders. The state benefits from its proximity to the national capital of Washington DC. Maryland is home to the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. It received an overall score of 77.7.
4- Connecticut
Connecticut gained three spots from 7th place in 2016 to 4th in 2019. The state received an overall score of 79.7. It was ranked 7th in patent activity and 8th in productivity and R&D intensity. Connecticut benefits from its proximity to New York City. It is home to many reputed educational institutions such as Yale University, Wesleyan University, and Trinity College.
3- Washington
Washington is one of the only three states that received an overall score of above 90. It is the third most innovative state in the country with a total score of 91. Washington is home to some of the world’s largest corporations including Microsoft, Amazon.com, Boeing, T-Mobile, Starbucks, and Costco.
2- Massachusetts
Massachusetts was the most innovative state in 2016 but has slipped to 2nd spot this year with a total score of 93.8. It ranked highly in every category. The state is home to educational institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Wellesley College. These institutions are breeding grounds for startups and entrepreneurs. The state also has headquarters of many S&P 500 companies including General Electric, Biogen, and Raytheon.
1- California
California has gained the title of the most innovative state in the US. It ranks 1st in patent activity; 2nd in the density of technology companies and science & engineering degree holders; and 4th in productivity and R&D activity. California received a total score of 94. The Golden State is home to technology giants like Apple, Google, Intel, Facebook, and others. It also has reputed educational institutions like Stanford University, CalTech, UCLA, and University of California-Berkeley. California attracts a diverse pool of talent from around the world.
