Explore How We’re Driving
Tech Forward
Leading the way in economic growth
Washington state has been a driver of technology innovation for decades and the industry is the key economic driver in the state. The Cluster is on a mission to ensure our state and region’s global leadership in artificial intelligence, Web3, and quantum information sciences. Now’s the time to invest in these technologies or we risk losing our leadership position – to help us build and ensure the future economic competitiveness of the region!
Achieving our goals
The Cluster has a number of Big, Huge, Audacious Goals to achieve over the next 5-10 years:
- Grow WA into the #1 state for Web3 technologies as measured by Moonbeam’s Innovation Index (currently 8th)
- Grow WA into a global leader in Quantum Information Sciences
- Regain WA’s global leadership in Artificial Intelligence
- Create an ‘Economic Visa’ across Cascadia leveraging advanced technologies such as digital identities and verifiable credentials
We do this by focusing on 5 key priorities:
The Cluster supports startups in a variety of ways including:
- WTIA Founder Cohort Accelerator
- Startup Newsletter (link to join)
- Educational and Networking Events all over Washington (link to WTIA calendar now but later the startup calendar)
- Connections to investors, service providers, and mentors
- Product Discounts (add link)
- Connections and resources to help with commercialization, procurement, and technical assistance for government grants and contracts
The Cluster is committed to building the future workforce that will ensure our region’s global competitiveness, and we do that by:
- Convening industry and academia to work together on internships, curriculum development, skill needs, and more
- Developing pathways for students from Community & Technical Colleges to enter the tech workforce
- Increasing both the literacy and fluency of students and employees in advanced technologies so that more people understand the benefits, impacts, risks, and opportunities
- Guest lectures at colleges and universities on advanced technology topics
The Cluster advances a robust policy and regulatory environment that supports the growth of Advanced Technologies by:
- Providing education to policymakers and regulatory agencies
- Providing education to community members, startups and incumbents about the importance of partnering with government
- Working closely with relevant agencies to explore pilot projects, develop regulatory strategies, and discover challenges
- Responding to Requests for Information (RFI) from state and federal agencies
- Providing a bridge for industry, particularly startups, to help shape policy and provide input
- Washington and the PNW are often overlooked and underestimated on a global stage. The Cluster will work to correct those absences by proactively identifying and developing partnerships across the rest of the country and world through state trade associations, private firms, foreign trade groups, and consulates to increase investment into the state and region.
- WTIA and the Cluster already work with a number of foreign trade groups like Investment New South Wales and Global Victoria (Australia), Korean Innovation Center (Korea), the Canadian Consulate (Canada), and Business Finland (Finland).
- Learn about international partnership opportunities (contact form)
The Cluster convenes stakeholders from industry, government, academia, and the investment community to solve ecosystem-level challenges, and so partnerships are critical to our success. The Cluster is focused on building partnerships across the PNW and Cascadia in order to create the most innovative region in the world. Connect with us to join our work (membership / contact form)
To achieve these goals, the Advanced Technology Cluster will create forums to convene key stakeholders, build partnerships with policymakers, expand startup resources, and chart a strategy to enable the long-term growth of the sector.
What is a “Cluster?”
The Advanced Technology Cluster follows the “Cluster” framework, which is an economic development methodology that convenes startups, enterprises, academia, investors, and government to grow an industry sector. The Washington State Department of Commerce has funded five high-growth industry clusters to ensure the long-term growth of the state and region.
About the Cascadia Blockchain Council
The Cascadia Blockchain Council (CBC) will form the foundation for the Advanced Technology Cluster’s blockchain work.
Reports
About Cluster Innovation Groups & Committees
We have a number of Innovation Groups and Committees that help us achieve our mission including:
- Cascadia Blockchain Council
- Quantum Committee
- WTIA Startup Programs
- AI Committee (forming in 2024)
- WTIA Education Council
- WTIA Startup Committee
- Events & Community Committee
- Commercialization Committee
Our Sponsors
Press
Nonprofit Receives Second Grant to Continue Cluster Momentum, Powering Innovation in Web3, Quantum Information Science and Artificial Intelligence
February, 2024 | Nick Ellingson
Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a robust, equity-centered technology sector that empowers thriving communities, today announced it is the recipient of a $300,000 grant from the State of Washington’s Department of Commerce.…
WTIA Receives $550,000 Grant to Develop Innovations in Blockchain and Quantum Computing in Washington State
January, 2022 | Nick Ellingson
WTIA was awarded a $550,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to begin the development of an Innovation Cluster Accelerator…
Washington state Dept. of Commerce commits $3M for ‘Innovation Cluster Accelerator’
January, 2022 | Taylor Soper
Washington state’s Department of Commerce today announced an “Innovation Cluster Accelerator” that gives five organizations $550,000…
Media Coverage
| Date | Publication | Author | Story | Article Link | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/04/22 | GeekWire | Charlotte Schubert | New bill establishes group to recommend policies for blockchain tech in Washington state | https://www.geekwire.com/2022/new-bill-establishes-group-to-recommend-policies-for-blockchain-tech-in-washington-state/ | WTIA |
| 04/02/22 | Cryptheory | crypto mommy | Washington passes bill to accelerate state blockchain adoption | https://cryptheory.org/washington-passes-bill-to-accelerate-state-blockchain-adoption/ | WTIA |
| 04/01/22 | The Daily Hodl | Daily Hodl Staff | US State Approves Blockchain Initiative Amid Rising Crypto Interest From Local Governments Across the Country | https://dailyhodl.com/2022/04/01/us-state-approves-blockchain-initiative-amid-rising-crypto-interest-from-local-governments-across-the-country/ | WTIA |
| 04/01/22 | IT Digest | PR Newswire | WTIA Applauds Signing of Washington State Blockchain Work Group Bill Into Law | https://itdigest.com/information-communications-technology/blockchain/wtia-applauds-signing-of-washington-state-blockchain-work-group-bill-into-law/ | WTIA |
| 03/31/22 | Last Cryptocurrency | Staff | Washington Governor Signs a Bill to Accelerate In-State Blockchain Adoption | https://www.lastcryptocurrency.com/washington-governor-signs-a-bill-to-accelerate-in-state-blockchain-adoption/ | WTIA |
| 03/31/22 | My News 24x7 | corres2 | Washington State Signs Bill to Study Blockchain Technology | https://mynews24x7.in/washington-state-signs-bill-to-study-blockchain-technology/ | WTIA |
| 03/31/22 | Crypto My Future | Kishore Hore | WTIA Applauds Signing of Washington State Blockchain Work Group Bill Into Law | https://cryptomyfuture.com/wtia-applauds-signing-of-washington-state-blockchain-work-group-bill-into-law/ | WTIA |
| 03/31/22 | San Francisco Tribe | Samuel Nduka | Blockchain Adoption in Washington State Is on the Rise as It Passes Blockchain Bill 5544 | https://sanfranciscotribe.com/Home/blockchain-adoption-in-washington-state-is-on-the-rise-as-it-passes-blockchain-bill-5544/ | WTIA |
Complete the form below to join the Advanced Technology Cluster which includes free basic WTIA membership.