Gone are the days when Arizona was a stop for dusty trucks en route to California. Rather, recent developments have cemented the state’s position as a burgeoning technology leader. Several tech giants are doubling down on their presence, and others are looking to expand into the Silicon Desert.
Arizona has long been home to traditional industries such as aerospace and defense, and recent headlines show that this momentum is undiminished. Raytheon Missiles and Defense just won a $619 million contract to build advanced radars for U.S. Navy ships, and Boeing will soon build 184 Apache attack helicopters at Mesa. be.
Emerging industries such as clean energy are also taking Arizona by storm. Amazon has announced projects in Arizona and neighboring states that will allow clean energy storage and installation during periods of high demand. Nikola has submitted plans for a hydrogen production plant in Buckeye, LG is expanding its battery facility at Queen Creek, and Mesa-based Nxu has just demonstrated over a megawatt of charging capacity.
Legislative District 28, which stretches from Maricopa County in the northwest to Yavapai County, has been in the news several times lately. Represented in Congress by Senators Frank Carroll, Rep. David Livingston, and Rep. ) factory.
From Carroll’s perspective, this historic investment will change the face of Arizona’s economic development and pave the way for TSMC’s entire supply chain and other Taiwanese tech companies to expand their local presence. . Arizona opened a trade and investment office in Taipei, Taiwan to further expand economic opportunities between the two regions.
These successes underscore the importance of technology-based, growth-enhancing, business-focused legislation in continuing Arizona’s economic development. The Arizona Technology Council regularly partners with the public and private sectors to prioritize education and workforce development, encourage risk-taking and entrepreneurship, help create and retain jobs, and provide credentials that help shape the future. advocating legislation that opens the door to a diverse workforce. The key is to consider policies that protect consumers while ensuring fair and equitable competition.
Beyond smart policy, there are also opportunities to leverage technology as a tool for economic development across the state. Technology trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things are already defining how businesses operate, and can only further improve collaboration and efficiency.
Here are some ways technology can drive economic growth.
data exchange
There is a huge opportunity to leverage the cloud for data and information exchange, which will break down silos and lead to better collaboration, communication, transparency and idea sharing between federal, local and local governments. Cloud solutions can aggregate critical data, identify trends, and recommend ways to improve existing systems.
Increased productivity and better allocation of resources
Studies show that moving to consistent reliability and a digital infrastructure can lead to significant productivity gains.according to Recent research According to The Hackett Group, administrators are 66% more productive when moving from on-site infrastructure to the AWS cloud. Technology automates tedious processes so you can work faster, cut costs, and spend less time managing your infrastructure. Cloud technology offers an opportunity to rethink how critical processes are performed in areas such as procurement, security compliance, and data protection.
Human resource development
It is also important to highlight how technology can improve access to education and enable more diverse learners to acquire high-tech skills. Early adoption of a hands-on approach to concepts such as AI/ML will plant the seeds for the next generation of innovators to dream up technology-driven businesses or become key talent for start-ups. I can.recently episode In the AZ TechCast podcast, leaders from Arizona State University, the Arizona Department of Commerce, and AWS explained the need for public-private collaboration to foster innovation.
The path forward for Arizona’s economic development is clear –x: The formula must include smart public policy and cutting-edge technology solutions. Let’s work together to create a political and economic environment in which Arizona can thrive.
Steven G. Zylstra is President and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and the SciTech Institute.
Senator Frank Carroll (R-Suncity West) represents District 28.
