Texas tops CTA 2016 Innovation Scorecard

By Paul Ploumis (ScrapMonster Author)

April 08, 2016 08:26:24 AM

AUSTIN (Scrap Monster): The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) will present the Innovation Champion Award to Texas Governor Gregg Abbot at CTA’s Digital Patriots Dinner scheduled to be held on April 20th. Texas had emerged as one of the toppers in CTA’s 2016 Innovation Scorecard. The CTA Innovation Scorecard grades every state and the District of Columbia on 10 criteria, ranging from quantitative to qualitative, and ranks them across four categories- Innovation Champions, Innovation Leaders, Innovation Adopters and Modest Innovators.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO congratulated Governor Abbot for the creation of a ready-made environment to attract investment and talent through introduction of favorable tax structure, STEM education and flexible workforce policies. He also commended the state lawmakers for implementing an updated electronics recycling bill with more innovative compliance options.

CTA noted that Governor Abbot has undertaken several initiatives to keep Texas a national hub for innovation and job creation. The state has cut the business margins tax by as much as 25%. The initiatives to speed up the permitting processes have helped in creation of better and favorable environment for doing business. The Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI) launched in February this year has supported Texas’ efforts to bring in nationally-recognized researchers to local institutions.

The 2016 Innovation Champions are the top-scoring states in the nation, earning high marks for maintaining strong right-to-work legislation, fast Internet access, a robust entrepreneurial climate, and an open posture to new business models and technologies. Five new states were crowned Innovation Champions in 2016, including Nebraska.

The 2016 event will also honor Senator Cory Booker and Representative Blake Farenthold  as 2016 Digital Patriots.