A spirit of cooperation and innovation between academia and business, an excellent educational system, an educated and productive workforce and a strong venture capital community are forces behind the success of these industries in Minnesota.

Commitment to Innovation

Minnesota supports a diverse and economically stable industry base. More than 460 medical device companies are located in "Medical Alley," a corridor that runs through the state. Some of the world's largest value-added agriculture companies, including Cargill, American Crystal Sugar, Mycogen Seeds and Novartis Seeds, are headquartered in the state. Minnesota is home to more than 40 biopharmaceutical, diagnostic, drug delivery, pharmaceutical and tissue engineering companies.

Innovation has long been a hallmark of Minnesota technology companies, which employ 150,000 workers, a concentration 50 percent higher than the U.S. average. Control Data introduced the computer more than 50 years ago. Minnesota's largest manufacturer, 3M, is well known for its innovative, diverse products ranging from Post-it™ notes to pharmaceuticals. Medtronic, the developer of the cardiac pacemaker, has spun off dozens of medical device companies.

Research and development at Minnesota's internationally renowned institutes, the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic, has given Minnesota a long list of "firsts." These worldwide introductions include:

• Open heart surgery
• The cardiac pacemaker
• Mechanical heart valve
• Anesthesia monitor
• Diabetes transplantation
• Bone marrow transplants
• Artificial blood
• Implantable drug transfusion pump
• Bioartificial liver