Frequently Asked Questions
What type of innovation is Idaho known for?
There are six broad categories that best describe Idaho's innovation expertise. These are the areas where technology innovation is most likely to be found in the state. They are: Communications Technology, Digital Imaging & Sensor Technology, Power & Energy, Agricultural/Biological Sciences, Software Technology, and New Materials & Nanotechnology. Visit our "Technology Platforms" section for a detailed look at each of these areas.
I've never thought of Idaho as a technology state. How significant is the industry?
Innovation firms account for more than 25 percent of Idaho's gross domestic product and the state ranks first in U.S. patents per capita. More than 56,000 people work in the state's high-tech industries. The value of annual high-tech exports are higher than the state's traditional industries combined and tech wages are nearly twice that of the average Idaho paycheck. The state's capital city, Boise, has one of the highest concentrations of innovation firms in the country, according to the Milken Institute.
What are the state's largest technology firms?
Idaho is home to the world's second-largest memory chip maker Micron Technology Inc., which has more than 10,000 employees in the state and has annual revenues of more than $4 billion.
Hewlett-Packard Co. brought the laser-jet printer to the world at its Boise facility. The Boise HP campus is one of the firm's largest worldwide sites.
The Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, managed by the Batelle Energy Alliance, is Idaho's 3rd largest employer and specializes in a myriad of research & development related to the nuclear energy industry.
What kind of business incentives does Idaho offer to the technology industry?
Idaho offers a number of financial incentives and tax credits. Visit our Incentives section for details.
Isn't there a national laboratory in Idaho?
Idaho is home to the Idaho National Lab, one of the nation's 13 national laboratories. Formerly known as the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, the facility took on a renewed mission in February 2005. Battelle Energy Alliance, along with a number of industry partners, has a ten-year contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to turn the Idaho National Lab into the world's premier center for the next generation of nuclear energy research. The lab also conducts research in areas that range from homeland security to environmental remediation to alternative fuels.