Utah invents.

AuthorStewart, Heather Dawn
PositionFrom the Editor

By any measure, Utah's tech industry is experiencing explosive growth--and it's pulling the rest of the state's economy along with it. Tech companies, which are adding employees at a breathtaking rate, are quickly outgrowing their spaces and moving into new offices, providing ample work for the commercial real estate and construction industries. These companies are also relying on the services of attorneys, accountants and financial institutions.

I could list the accolades that have been heaped on Utah's tech industry all day long. Publications like the New Yorker and Inc. can't help but draw comparisons between Utah and Silicon Valley--with Utah coming out the clear winner. While Utah has long nurtured innovation and a burgeoning tech community, just in the past two or three years, it seems the industry has hit critical mass and truly developed into an unstoppable force. Last year, for instance, several Utah tech firms received billion-dollar valuations. Venture capital and private equity deals reached an all-time peak--with no signs of simmering down.

Because Utah's tech industry has become such an enormous component of the state's business community, Utah Business is expanding our long-time Techknowledge department into a longer, more trends-focused Technology department that will enable us to take a deeper look at the issues and trends that matter most to technology companies--issues like the no-holds-barred battle for talented workers, efforts to improve science and technology education in K-12 schools, and cultivating executive-level managers.

This month, starting on page 46, editor Rachel Madison takes a look at the America Invents Act, exploring how the revamped patent application system has impacted local inventors and companies. About 18 months after the law's implementation...

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