A new report published by the NC Department of Commerce shows that North Carolina is ahead of national growth averages on key metrics measuring innovation capacity.
North Carolina has moved up to 21st in the nation for innovation capacity overall and is exceeding national growth averages by more than six times the rate of other states in some key metrics, according to the 2019 Tracking Innovation report.
North Carolina’s academic research and development intensity has grown at a rate of 25.4 percent since 2003, three times faster than the national average.
From 2003 to 2017, the percentage of the state’s workforce in science and engineering occupations increased by 34.8 percent.
The report identifies ways to generate economic development in science and technology sectors to improve North Carolina’s economy.
