Network Computing is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Colorado Business Leaders See Another Tech Boom: Page 2 of 3

The state ranks third in the nation for the percentage of its labor force in science and engineering and fourth for the number of graduate students in science and engineering, according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Its biggest export is electronic integrated circuits, and it is one of three states with a technology secretary.

All 64 counties, even the most rural areas, have high-speed Internet infrastructure and the state is backing several funding initiatives, including a program that joins venture capitalists with entrepreneurs.

Leaders, armed with a slew of rankings and statistics, are also touting a business-friendly environment, with strong employment growth, low litigation rates, labor market freedom, a favorable regulatory environment and low taxes.

Instead of trying to attract one company or one type of industry, state leaders are attempting to show a wide array of outsiders that they already have clusters of biotech, aerospace and telecommunications companies, research labs, nanotechnologies and other technology assets to build upon. They are also developing several public and private initiatives to encourage growth.

Metzger Associates CEO John Metzger, serving as a publicist for the Advancing Colorado campaign, explained why he thinks the state could be the next hot spot for the evolution of technology.