Twelve states and the District of Columbia are now championing innovation-friendly policies at the highest level according to the 2016 Innovation Scorecard, an annual innovation policy performance index released today by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®.

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twelve states and the District of Columbia are now championing innovation-friendly policies at the highest level according to the 2016 Innovation Scorecard, an annual innovation policy performance index released today by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®. Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin are first-time Innovation Champions - top designation - joining repeat champion winners Delaware, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas, Utah, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

"We hope the Innovation Scorecard will be a guide for states who want to embrace those policies that best drive innovation, create good jobs and fuel economic growth"
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"We hope the Innovation Scorecard will be a guide for states who want to embrace those policies that best drive innovation, create good jobs and fuel economic growth," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association. "Weve identified and measured some key practices that enable innovators to thrive including drawing entrepreneurs from across the country, welcoming disruptive business models and educating the workers of tomorrow. But unless more state policymakers adopt a light regulatory framework, they risk sending valuable talent and economic growth to a neighboring state - or, far worse, overseas."

The 2016 Innovation Champion states earned high grades for maintaining strong right-to-work legislation, fast Internet access, a robust entrepreneurial climate and an open posture to new business models and technologies. Other Scorecard criteria are tax policy, tech workforce, investment attraction; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees; unmanned innovations and sustainability policies. Since the last edition of the Scorecard, six states regressed to a lower tier.

Among the Scorecards other key findings:

Twenty-five states, plus the District of Columbia, have legalized ridesharing statewide - Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin;
Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi and Oregon were the only states earning an ‘A grade for creating a policy environment favorable toward drones;
California again fell short of the highest tier, receiving Innovation Adopter status because of continued burdensome regulations on energy efficiency and unfavorable tax policies;
Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Utah and the District of Columbia have the fastest Internet speeds in the country; and
Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming are among the leading states - along with the District of Columbia - at creating new jobs and new small businesses.
The 2016 Innovation Scorecard grades every state and Washington, D.C. on ten quantitative and qualitative criteria and assigns each to one of four categories — Innovation Champion, Innovation Leader, Innovation Adopter or Modest Innovator. Wisconsin made the most progress of any state on innovation policy in 2015, jumping two tiers from Innovation Adopter to Innovation Champion by passing right-to-work laws, improving job creation and growth of small firms, and legalizing ridesharing statewide. In addition to the five first-time Innovation Champions, nine states - Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island - improved their innovation rankings from last year.

The complete 2016 Innovation Scorecard, featuring category rankings, state-by-state profiles and an explanation of CTAs methodology can be found here. CTA will update the Scorecard annually to reflect states evolving policies and any changes in measuring innovation-friendly policymaking.

About Consumer Technology Association:

Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, formerly Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, is the trade association representing the $287 billion U.S. consumer technology industry. More than 2,200 companies - 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the worlds best known brands - enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces CES® - the worlds gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTAs industry services.