3.2 Infrastructure to Support the Knowledge Economy

The knowledge economy is built on an infrastructure of clusters of higher education institutions that produce skilled, educated and creative knowledge workers, research that produces innovation and capital that enables the conversion of innovative ideas into economic assets and new industries. A successful knowledge economy also uses innovation to advance traditional industries and sectors. MetroBoston has the key ingredients for a successful and growing innovation economy—highly skilled workers, infrastructure to attract federal R&D dollars, venture capital and a high concentration and broad range of higher education institutions. However, with growing US and global competition, its competitive edge cannot be taken for granted.