Chamber Study Highlights Kansas’s Innovative Contributions
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) today released a report highlighting Kansas’s contributions to America’s innovation economy. This study is part of GIPC’s State Fact Sheets, which provide a look at the roles innovation and creativity play in each state. The report highlights local companies and facts demonstrating how innovation and creativity—which are safeguarded by strong IP rights—serve as a driving force behind economic recovery and future growth.
“Innovation and creativity are vital to Kansas economy,” said Dr. Mark Esper, executive vice president of the Chamber’s GIPC. In 2007, Kansas’s innovators and researchers received 534 patents and 714 trademarks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally, businesses involved in the creation and distribution of copyrighted works grew to nearly 4,400 in 2008, a 9.7% increase from the previous year.
Esper noted examples of innovation and creativity in Kansas. The Sunflower State has the highest growth rate for research, testing, and laboratories. Additionally, the software industry employs almost 1,500 Kansans who earn nearly $87 million in wages. Kansas is also recognized as third in the nation for high-tech wage growth from 2001-2006.
“Indeed, Kansans are proven innovators,” said Esper. Our modern GPS products were created by several engineers in Olathe’s Garmin Ltd., which has evolved into a world leader in navigation and global positioning devices. “America has a unique story to tell, and Kansas plays a large role in this story. Innovation and creativity are essential to economic growth and human advancement, and Kansas’s IP contributions reflect this.”
The Kansas State Fact Sheet is intended to be a resource for legislators, policymakers, and the public to identify successful companies, inventors, creative artists, and innovators to better understand the role they play in our economy and society. As part of an easy-to-use, interactive map, the State Fact Sheet project can be accessed online at www.theglobalipcenter.com, as well as in a printable format.
The Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center is working around the world to champion intellectual property (IP) as vital to creating jobs, saving lives, advancing global economic growth, and generating breakthrough solutions to global challenges.
The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
For more information, please contact Trinh Nguyen at 202-463-5379.
