A researcher says there's "positive news" despite a drop from 29th to 32nd in technology and science.
By DAVE GUSSOW
Published March 31, 2004
Florida dropped several notches but remained in the middle of the pack in a national ranking of states' technology and science efforts.
According to the Milken Institute's State Technology and Science Index to be released today,Florida went from No. 29 in 2002 to No. 32 this year.
"There's very positive news in Florida's case," said Rob Koepp, a research fellow and coauthor of the report. "It's not to be taken too dismally."
For example, Koepp said, Florida ranked fourth for the percentage increase in spending for higher education, and moved up to 11th in state spending for student aid.
"Human capital is really a core for any high-tech economy," Koepp said.
Despite the tech industry's problems the last few years, including the dot-com meltdown, the nonprofit think tank (www.milkeninstitute.org) maintains that technology will be a key player in a state's economic success.
The rankings are based on 75 measurements in five categories: research and development; risk capital and entrepreneurial infrastructure; human capital investment; technology and science work force; and technology concentration and dynamism.
Florida ranked 41st in research and development, down two spots from 2002; 28th in risk capital, down from 23rd; 44th in human capital investment, up one spot; 27th in work force, down from 21st; and 29th in tech concentration, down from 24th, according to the report.
Because the study relies on government data, some of which dates to 2002, Florida's successful recruiting of the Scripps Research Institute last year was not a factor in the results.
Scripps was lured to Palm Beach County with the promise of more than $500-million in state and local incentives to become what officials hope will be the center of Florida's biotech industry.
Overall, Massachusetts received the top score, followed by California, Colorado, Maryland and Virginia.
