Connecticut’s ranking as the 8th state for Innovation Potential highlights its commitment to supporting technological advances and entrepreneurial endeavors. Although it does not lead in every category, the state has made significant progress in areas such as Independent Inventor Patents per 1,000 Working-Age Population (7th) and Industry R&D Investment Amount per Total Civilian Employed Population (8th). These indicators suggest a thriving environment for research and development, with potential for cultivating new ideas and technologies.
The state also ranks among the top 10 states for research and development spending as a percentage of state GDP, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Connecticut spent 2.7% of its GDP on R&D activities in 2021, marking a 22% increase from the previous year and a 44% jump since 2017. These findings are part of a new Research and Development Satellite Account being developed by the BEA in collaboration with the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics of the National Science Foundation. Alongside Connecticut, other leading R&D states by percentage of state GDP include California, Washington, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Delaware, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Maryland.
CEO Chris DiPentima of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) emphasized the importance of R&D activities in driving innovation, particularly in high-growth industries like aerospace and bioscience. While Connecticut performs well in innovation-related metrics, its rankings in other aspects of state economies are less favorable. Overall, despite challenges in some areas of its economy, Connecticut’s strong commitment to innovation bodes well for future economic growth and competitiveness on a national scale.
