06 May Madison’s tech sector booms, driven by UW innovation
Madison is increasingly being noticed as a hub of tech innovation, inspired in part by UW–Madison technology and graduates. PHOTO: BRYCE RICHTER
The strong growth of Madison’s technology sector is drawing attention nationwide.
The boom is fueled in part by UW–Madison, which provides cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial graduates and researchers, and a well-educated local workforce that motivates some employers to open offices in Madison.
In 2020, the country’s biggest tech migration increase took place in Madison, according to LinkedIn data published by Big Technology on December 17, 2020.
Madison’s technology labor market grew 47 percent from 2014-2019, based on data provided to Wisconsin Public Radio by Lexi Russell, associate director of research and analysis for CBRE, a San Francisco investment company that tracks national real estate trends.
In addition to these statistics that show real growth, Madison’s growth potential stands out: In 2019, the Brookings Institution and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation ranked Madison first out of 35 cities with the potential to become innovation hubs.
Technology presence tied to UW–Madison; Several big technology companies have had offices in Madison for years, drawn by collaborations and recruiting opportunities at UW–Madison.