Seattle versus Silicon Valley

How does Seattle's technology community compare to Silicon Valley?

Well, a report issued today by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group says our neighbor to the south has a lot of work to do if it wants to retain its lead over places like Seattle, Austin and Washington, D.C.

According to my story on the report today, Seattle tied for third place with Boston in terms of how well the tech regions are addressing issues such as education, taxes and housing affordability.

Of the eight regions studied, Silicon Valley finished last.

"Areas like Seattle and others have done a terrific job, often on the policy front, to be extremely competitive," said Silicon Valley Leadership Group president Carl Guardino. "It is a good reminder to our region that we are not only competing against other nations, but other states."

Some in Seattle -- especially those who have watched the monorail debacle unfold -- may be shocked to hear the region's public policy praised. But Guardino said that Seattle is doing better on several fronts, especially taxes, eighth grade math proficiency and housing affordability.

Here's a less rosy report (PDF) from the Technology Alliance of Seattle and here is the 2005 Index of Innovation and Technology (PDF) from the Washington Technology Center, which says the state is still struggling to overcome the effects of the recession.

And here is how the Silicon Valley Leadership Group's report was played in the San Jose Mercury News, the Austin American-Statesman and the San Francisco Chronicle.