Colorado Innovation Network releases 2015 Innovation Report

DENVER, CO -- The Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) today released its 4th annual innovation report at the 2015 COIN Summit in Denver.

COIN began tracking Colorado's innovation performance in 2012, focusing on a framework of talent, capital, ideas and entrepreneurship. This year's report, sponsored by PwC, focuses almost entirely on the talent landscape in Colorado based on interviews with leaders in industry, higher education and workforce development who report on their perspectives of the challenges and trends expected to shape the future workforce.

The report includes narratives on the Colorado talent pipeline ranging from "Big Data & Automation" to "Evolving Educational Models" and "Creating Customized Employee Pathways."

"Colorado has one of the nation's most educated workforces, encompassing exceptional innovators and entrepreneurs who continue to move Colorado forward," said Gov. John Hickenlooper. "This year's innovation report is a great guide to help us ensure that we continue to attract the best talent in the US and continue to 'grow our own'."

"We are fortunate to live in a state that inherently attracts top talent, which in turn makes us attractive to leading companies who wish to start, grow or locate here," said COIN executive director Anna Ewing. "The report shows the importance of focusing on innovative ways of educating, training and connecting our talent to employers if we are to effectively serve all needs of the workforce."

Key findings from the report:

• Producing and retaining a highly skilled workforce, as well as a highly-educated workforce, is fundamental to keeping the state competitive in today's marketplace.
• Traditional higher-education models are evolving, and must continue to do so, to meet the demands of today's employers for experiential learning and workplace readiness in employees.
• While Colorado employers benefit from a highly educated population, an influx of Millennial-generation workers, and a thriving business environment compared to other states, the associated pressures on transportation, housing, and other infrastructure factors are highly relevant in impacting the talent pipeline.

"In a more globally connected world where the best and the brightest are not limited by geographic boundaries, can set their own agenda and be selective about opportunities, it is important to identify what influences the flow of talent to the workforce and what makes a state attractive to these top-notch individuals," said Mitra Best, US Innovation Leader at PwC.

To access the report, visit www.coloradoinnovationnetwork.com. Hosted by Gov. Hickenlooper, the 2015 COIN Summit convenes over 300 innovators, thought leaders and business professionals for two days of dialogue exploring the event's theme of "Curiosity."

InnovatioNews is covering COIN 2015. To offer a story idea, contact Publisher Lee Porter at [email protected]

COIN was launched in 2011 by Hickenlooper with the mission of making Colorado the most innovative state in the nation. COIN is a public-private partnership housed in the Colorado Office of Economic Development. COIN convenes and connects leaders in the innovation ecosystem and is at the forefront of meaningful dialogue between private enterprise, non-profits and state government.

Learn more at www.coloradoinnovationnetwork.com.