Maryland Could Be Future Hub of Data Economy

The Center for Data Innovation recently published a report entitled “The Best States for Data Innovation,” ranking the U.S. states on their ability to foster data innovation. The report also discusses how technological advancements, like faster computing, better algorithms, and more robust communication networks, have made it easier to collect, store, analyze, use, and disseminate data. These advancements have led to the emergence of the data economy: an economy in which success depends on how effectively firms can leverage data to generate insights and unlock value.

Maryland ranks third overall among the fifty states and leads in several categories. Given Maryland’s high ranking, if Governor Larry Hogan – with the General Assembly’s help –continues his efforts to improve Maryland’s business climate and fiscal situation, Maryland could become the national hub of the data economy.

Here are some notable categories where Maryland ranks in the top 10:

• Enabling technology platforms: Maryland ranks 1^st.

• Broadband access: Maryland ranks 3^rd.

• The availability of machine-readable data on public-transit systems: Maryland ranks 3^rd.

• Using data to develop human and business capital: Maryland ranks 6^th.

• Maryland has one of the highest percentages of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees, ranking 7^th overall.

• Maryland has the highest number of jobs in the country related to statistics and the second highest number of jobs related to data-science.

• Maryland also was one of the first states to enact an open-data policy, allowing residents and businesses to have access to government datasets.

The report says: “The widespread adoption of data analytics and artificial intelligence is expected to contribute hundreds of billions of dollars to U.S. GDP in the coming years in sectors such as finance, transportation, and manufacturing, while unlocking new opportunities to improve outcomes in fields such as education and health care.” For Maryland, fostering data innovation will continue to attract more economic activity and job creation into the state, establishing Maryland as a hub of the data economy and providing innovations in medicine, education, and transportation for its residents.

As I stated in a July 2017 blog, Maryland has struggled with achieving fiscal responsibility in the past. But new leadership under Governor Hogan has started to reform Maryland’s business climate. If successful, efforts to eliminate unnecessary regulations and lower burdensome taxes and fees will attract jobs and economic activity into the state, increase Maryland’s tax base, and reduce its long-term debt. Alleviating the burden of long-term debt for residents and businesses will spur additional economic activity within Maryland and attract more data-intensive businesses that value Maryland’s emerging data economy.

As the report states:

While data-driven innovation is a global phenomenon, some regions are better poised to enjoy the resulting benefits because they have invested in and supported the conditions necessary to succeed in the data economy. This is also true within the United States, where some states are actively building the necessary foundation for a thriving data economy and others are lagging. Decisions made today that affect the extent to which a state participates in the data economy will have long-term implications for its future growth, as data plays an increasingly larger role in many different sectors across the economy. Early adopters will benefit more quickly from using data to address a multitude of challenges, and by positioning themselves at the forefront of data-driven innovation; they also will be able to grow and attract data-driven companies in a wide range of sectors that will make them the future hubs of the data economy.

The Center for Data Innovation’s report says that some of Maryland’s high-level statisticians and data-scientists may reside in the state for federal government employment. Nevertheless, with this valuable resident workforce, Maryland’s data economy already has an advantage over other states. Governor Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly should continue to reduce regulatory and tax barriers that could inhibit data-intensive businesses from locating in the state.

Governor Hogan and other state leaders should be commended for their efforts to foster data innovation within the state. State leaders should be proud, but not content, with Maryland’s 3^rd overall ranking. There is no reason why Maryland cannot become the United States’ future hub of the data economy.