Report: Mass. continues to lead on innovation, but funding lagging
Massachusetts has fallen into the bottom half of the leading technology states in higher education funding per student, with spending levels declining faster than any of the other states.
Massachusetts continued to lead the nation in output per capita in innovation sectors, but is falling behind some of the other leading technology states in education funding and achievement, according to a study released Monday.
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) report found that the Bay State continues to lead the country in technology licensing, start up formation and research dollars as a percentage of gross domestic product.
The commonwealth employs 38 percent of workers in innovation sectors such as life sciences, software design and health care, higher than any other state. Science and engineering make up 6.5 percent of jobs in Massachusetts, which is also highest in the country.
“The investment in STEM-related occupations indicates that the investments the Commonwealth has made in innovative sectors such as robotics, biotech, big data and health IT are paying dividends,” MassTech CEO Pamela Goldberg said in a statement.
However, the study found that Massachusetts has fallen into the bottom half of the leading technology states in higher education funding per student, with spending levels declining faster than any of the other states.
The commonwealth now spends $1,184 less than the national average on each public, full-time higher education student, and $1,375 less than the other leading technology states. The Patrick administration is moving to reverse that trend, the report said.
The Bay State has also seen declining high school attainment over the past three years, a period during which other states have seen increases. Still, Massachusetts produces the most college graduates per capita of any state and has the nation’s highest percentage of college-educated workers.
(Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net)
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