An incubator for smart thinking.
Here, there are no rules, no pedigrees, no barriers. One simple thought pervades Metro Denver: Let the best idea win. The bright and adventurous gravitate here because they can make their mark relatively quickly.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper created the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) in 2011 to promote collaboration among Colorado's private, public and academic organizations. COIN will stimulate economic growth, help create jobs and attract new businesses by supporting innovative business activities and establishing Colorado as the best state for business.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will locate one of four new satellite offices in Denver due to the state's expansive culture of innovation and entrepreneurism, ability to attract and retain highly skilled workers, and its vast transportation infrastructure.
But don’t take our word for it – just examine Colorado's impressive record of competitiveness, venture capital funding, and entrepreneurial activity:
- Third in the nation for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants (SBIR, 2011)
- Third in the nation in concentration of high-tech workers in the country (TechAmerica, 2011)
- Third in venture capital investments per $1,000 of state GDP (PriceWaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree Survey, 2011)
- Fourth in number of proprietors as a percent of total employment (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011)
- Fifth in initial public offerings (Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2011)
- Sixth in number of new companies per 1,000 employees (U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011)
Our state is second to none in concentrated talent, making Metro Denver a crucible for innovation and entrepreneurism. The free exchange of ideas among our research universities and national laboratories and the business community breeds company success.
Helpful links: