Texas is among the top 10 states making the biggest investments in digital innovation, according to a new study.
The study, conducted by web-hosting company Hostinger, puts Texas in eighth place among the states when it comes to these key metrics:
- Financial impact of the digital economy
- Amount of venture capital and grants received by digital startups
- Number of government-run tech hubs
- Presence of top-rated business incubators
“To many, the Texas story is one of oil magnates and real estate tycoons. But in recent decades, the state has emerged as an innovation and high-tech hub,” according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
On a scale of 1 to 100, Texas received a score of 79. California nabbed the top spot with a score of 100. Appearing behind California and ahead of Texas in the ranking are:
- No. 2: New York
- No. 3: Washington
- No. 4: Illinois
- No. 5: Massachusetts
- No. 6: Missouri
- No. 7: Wisconsin
In terms of ranking factors, Texas benefited the most from landing at No. 2 among the states for its impact on the digital economy. The study pegged Texas’ digital economic impact at $141.7 billion, well below California’s impact of $492.8 billion.
Hostinger relied primarily on government data on 31 states to come up with the ranking. “The research provides a detailed ranking based on a composite score that reflects each state's overall investment and capacity for digital innovation,” the company says.
More than 30,000 businesses in Texas participate in the digital economy, according to the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA). Those businesses employ more than 633,000 people and account for over six percent of the state’s GDP, a key measure of economic strength.
“As technology companies face increasing scrutiny through state and national legislation and litigation, it’s crucial to recognize the significant positive impacts of the digital economy that resonate across the United States,” says the CCIA.