States are filling in the gaps in science and technology and related policy created by a waning investment and support at the national level. That's a conclusion I came away with from the past two days in a national convocation organized by the National Academies (Science, Engineering, Medicine) and others, to examine the growing role of states in science and technology.
While there has been widespread recognition in the past couple of years that the US is falling behind in science and technolog, it has been largely viewed as a national problem. Now, however there are many large, innovative efforts underway at the state level. States are seen operating as mini-nations in this arena, a concept that should not be surprising when you realize that state economies equal those of other nations.
Gov. Napolitano really brought this to national attention with her "Innovation America" initiative as head of the National Governor's Association last year (www.nga.org/center/innovation).
A new report by the Pew Center on the States and the NGA describes what's happening at the state level and Arizona is cited as one of the more innovative states with impressive results (http://www.pewtrusts.org/pdf/NGA_Report.pdf).