Nerd Wallet compiled their list of the most innovative tech hubs in the country using the following criteria.
- Number of patents per 1,000 residents. We looked at the number of patents granted in the technology class by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in each metro area from 2009 to 2013 to find the areas with the most inventive residents.
- Financial support for innovation. We examined the amount of venture capital funding an area received per capita in 2014 to understand if entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need.
- Economies of agglomeration. Agglomeration — nearness of location — is used here to describe the benefits when companies, like startups, cluster together. The higher the density of startups, the more innovators can benefit from common labor pools and idea sharing.
Top Ten Cities
1. San Jose
2. Boulder, CO
3. San Francisco
4. Corvalis, OR
5. Seattle
6. Fort Collins, CO
7. Provo, UT
8. Austin
9. Burlington, VT
10. Boston
Complete top 50 and much more info here:
America
The Bay Area is a beast! Two of the top three cities and their level of venture capital funding blows every other city away.
Props to Bremerton, WA. The top 50 is dominated by cities with large universities. Bremerton doesn't even have a four year university. It is technically part of Seattle metro but not the tightest of connections. It is very long drive or an hour ferry ride to Seattle and its universities. Still, some very positive things are going on there.
Strong showing by the Front Range of Colorado with four cities ranked in the top 25. Boulder #2, Ft Collins #6, Denver #14, and Colorado Springs #25.
Not a great showing for Texas. Austin ranked an impressive #8 but the only other Texas city ranked in the top fifty was Dallas at number 38.
What are your thoughts on the rankings? Any surprises for you? Trends you noticed?
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