State (MA) needs to make science, technology a priority

Since 1977, the Massachusetts High Tech Council has understood that the most critical factor to success in high technology is attracting
and retaining people with the right education and skills. Its motto was, and is, ”making Massachusetts the best state in which to live and
work and to do business.”

By:
Ray Stata
Boston Globe

It has focused on improving the quality and quantity of college graduates with technical degrees, developing relationships between
industry and universities, and boosting the quality of math and science in K-12 education.

And despite the current high-tech recession – the worst I’ve experienced – the council agenda has bared fruit. Massachusetts leads the
nation in employment of scientists and engineers as a percentage of the work force – 19 percent – well ahead of California and New
York. This success is also correlated to the region’s richness of leading research universities, most private. Sadly, to a large degree, state
government has been a passive observer of past success. For example, Massachusetts ranks 49th among the states in financial support
for public higher education.

But this must change for Massachusetts to stay in the forefront of the high-technology industry. Established competitors such as New
York and California and ambitious new entrants including Colorado and Georgia have already implemented coordinated programs to
support their technology sectors. With other states aggressively competing for high-tech business and jobs, Massachusetts must not
leave the future of its leading industry sectors to chance. IBM’s decision to build a multibillion dollar IC wafer fabrication facility in New
York had a lot to do with the efforts of New York’s state government. Would Massachusetts have stepped up to the plate in the same
way?

The High Tech Council has joined with other industry organizations, and private and public universities, to make science and
technology a priority of the next governor. An open letter endorsed by the council was recently sent to Mitt Romney and Shannon
O’Brien urging their commitment to establish a coordinated higher education, science and technology strategy as the core of the state’s
economic development agenda.

A few of the initiatives identified in the ”Call to Action,” coordinated by Mass Insight:

Accelerate the development of the UMass system as a leading-edge technology, research-based university. Why shouldn’t
UMass-Amherst become the Berkeley of Massachusetts? Already it has very strong departments in computer science and other
technical disciplines. But historically, the Legislature has let private universities carry the load for higher education, systematically
underfunding public universities compared to competitor states. Today, we are graduating fewer engineers in Massachusetts than a
decade ago and have been able to sustain the growth of high technology only by absorbing foreign engineers.

Coordinate science and technology initiatives by private campuses with public higher education systems. We must foster direct support
of critical research in both public and private universities through matching grants with industry and the federal government. Other
states are selectively nurturing promising new technological development at research universities. Why not Massachusetts?

Enhance steps toward improving K-12 math and science education. K-12 is the feeder for science and technology careers and there is
ample evidence that our K-12 system is failing in this respect. There are programs that have been proven to work, like RESEED, which
puts retired engineers in the classroom. But these programs need financial support.

Play a more active role in attracting federal research funding to Massachusetts. Increasingly, federal research programs favor matching
grants. Other states are much more effective in helping secure research funds for their universities.

The High Tech Council has been the most effective organization in the Commonwealth in mobilizing change on issues that affect high
technology. Once again, there is a need for the Council to take on a leadership role. By making this a priority, the council aims to enlist
the next governor in more thoughtful economic development strategy that will strengthen high-tech education, research, and industrial
development in Massachusetts.

Ray Stata is founding president of Analog Devices Inc. and a founding member of the Massachusetts High Technology Council. His
comments were part of his address this month at Mass. High Tech’s 25th anniversary dinner.