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6 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2018 2018 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 6 When global tech leader Infosys recently chose Connecticut to build one of its new innovation hubs in the U.S., President Ravi Kumar said, "The region's position as the Insurance Capital of the World, paired with Connecticut's world-renowned academic institutions, will place Infosys in close proximity to valued clients and accelerate the recruitment of highly skilled local talent." That one comment combines five of the key reasons more up- and-coming entrepreneurs and established businesses alike are choosing to grow in Connecticut. STRATEGIC LOCATION Being equidistant from New York and Boston, two of the Northeast's largest cities, is a huge advantage. This proximity to customers and prospects — as well as to business partners — gives Connecticut companies easy access to both opportunities and resources. In fact, Connecticut businesses are within 500 miles of one-third of the entire U.S. economy. HIGHLY SKILLED TALENT Businesses are also attracted to Connecticut by its workforce — characterized by smart, resourceful employees who think big and work hard. Compared to the national average, Connecticut has nearly 50 percent more adults with bachelor's degrees or above. The state also ranks No. 3 in the U.S. for adults with master's degrees, and No. 6 in the U.S. for science and engineering doctorates. EXCEPTIONALLY PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE Just as critical as the skill of our workers is their focus on productivity. In fact, if this state were a country, Connecticut would be the sixth most productive economy in the world — ahead of Germany, Japan and Hong Kong. A GREAT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM Priming that talent pipeline is one of the nation's best educational systems — from kindergarten through graduate school. Our K-12 education is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as No. 4 in the country. There are also 40 leading colleges and universities in Connecticut, including Yale University, UConn and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. PASSION FOR INNOVATION Connecticut businesses have long been at the forefront of innovation on land, sea and air — from the invention of the world's first submarine and helicopter to the fuel cell that powered NASA's first space suit. In addition to advances in manufacturing, the state is also known for its innovation in such key sectors as bioscience, insurance/financial services, green technology and digital media. Continuing to fuel that innovation is the fact that Connecticut ranks No. 4 in the U.S. for private R&D investment per capita — twice the national average. Complementing this private capital are robust state-funded programs, like the state's $75-million Manufacturing Innovation Fund. To learn more about why Connecticut is such a great place to grow your business, go to CTforBusiness.com. Also look for CTDECD on Facebook and Twitter and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development on LinkedIn. TOP 5 REASONS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT SPONSOR REPORT