Milwaukee and Madison in Top 20 for Tech in Midwest

For decades, the Midwest held its status as the nation's industrial heart, serving as the crucible where the machinery and tools that fueled the US economy were forged. However, since the 1980s, a sweeping wave of deindustrialization has swept the region, forcing Midwestern cities to face the challenges of revitalization in an age dominated by technology.

To assess the strides made in this transformation, commercial real estate website Commercial Café ranked the 20 most promising Midwestern metro areas for tech growth. The assessment was based on nine key metrics, including data on the concentration of technology firms, technology employment in the local economy and the number of patents granted. In addition, unemployment rates and educational attainment were taken into account in this assessment.

Milwaukee emerged as a contender in this tech-driven renaissance, securing 17th place among the rankings. Specifically, Milwaukee ranked 6th in terms of organizations and companies contributing to patents filed between 2018 and 2022. In addition, it ranked 8th in the number of patents granted over the same period and showed a significant increase in profits technology from 2017 to 2021, once again placing it in 8th place.

However, the crown for technological prowess in the Midwest was claimed by Madison, which rose to the top spot in the rankings. Madison demonstrated outstanding performance across several key metrics, reinforcing its status as a beacon of technology innovation in the region. Close behind Madison were Ann Arbor and Chicago, rounding out the top three in this analysis of Midwestern tech growth.

As the Midwest continues its journey toward technological transformation, these rankings provide valuable insight into the evolving landscape of innovation and economic recovery in the heartland of the United States.

See the full rankings and study findings at Emporiko Kafe website.