During his keynote address today at the Governor’s Technology Awards, Gov. Bobby Jindal highlighted Louisiana’s recent gains in attracting high-tech businesses with ethics reform and some of the nation’s best tax incentive and workforce development programs.
However, Jindal says, Louisiana must continue to focus on building a knowledge-based economy if it is to maintain and accelerate its economic development momentum. Technology-based companies grow more quickly than those in other industries, he says, while offering better pay and benefits to workers, meaning they provide young Louisianans the best opportunity “to pursue their dreams right here.”
“The reason technology is so important … is because economic development is our No. 1 priority, and the only way we’re going to continue to grow our economy and keep our children in Louisiana is by embracing technology,” he says.
For the past two years, Louisiana has ranked in the top three nationally for technology-based employment, Louisiana Technology Council Chairman Mike Olivier says. Jindal compares the emerging growth of the tech industry to the early days of the state’s efforts to boost the film industry.
“What we’ve done in movies we’re doing in digital media now,” he says, “and digital media can be an even bigger part of our economy than movies.”
This year’s winners are:
—Rising Star of the Year: Twin Engine Labs, Shreveport
—Innovator of the Year (two winners): Touch Studios, New Orleans; and Amedisys, Baton Rouge/Patrick Thompson
—Technology Leader of the Year: eMerge, New Orleans
—University Technology Leader of the Year: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge
—Technology Company of the Year: AXI Education Solutions, Mandeville
—Steve Sanoski
