WalletHub recently ranked Washington as the 5th Most Innovative State in the country. Innovation is a principal driver of U.S. economic growth. The U.S. spends more than $800 billion per year on research and development. According to a WalletHub Analyst, "The most innovative states are especially attractive to people who have majored in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, as they offer abundant career opportunities and investment dollars, both for jobs at existing companies and for startups." See the full list here