Technology

Colo. Tech Group Asks Members to Help Break Down Barriers to Innovation

In partnership with Sen. Cory Gardner, the Colorado Technology Association is hosting interactive online sessions to solicit member feedback on barriers to innovation.

The Colorado Technology Association is asking its members how they could create one more innovation or one more job—if not for a regulation or another perceived barrier.

Through its new One More Job/One More Innovation Initiative, CTA will partner with Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.)—a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee—to gather input from the state’s technology sector on challenges companies face, as well as federal legislation and regulations they think are hindering innovation.

“Our One More Job/One More Innovation Initiative aims to give the Colorado technology industry a voice at the table in Washington, DC,” Gardner said in a statement. “With the start of a new Congress and a new administration, we must explore opportunities to work together to set a robust agenda. That’s why I’m excited to partner with the Colorado Technology Association to listen to Coloradans about how we can best grow the tech industry, work to target regulations they find burdensome, and pursue legislative solutions that will expand Colorado’s technology footprint and ensure the United States remains a global leader in this space.”

CTA will host interactive online sessions that allow participants to remain anonymous but see each other’s ideas when it comes to regulations that could be repealed or reworked to encourage innovation and create jobs, as well as potential legislative solutions to common challenges. CTA has already recruited participants and is in the process of planning the first session.

“The goal is to make this a very engaging process,” said Andrea Young, CTA’s president and CEO. “We hope to use the same application to serve members more generally.”

After the session, a report will be prepared and shared with Gardner. Young explained that some of the operational and technological resources its members need to stay in compliance—for reporting or to meet certifications—can hinder innovation. “We want to be able to have a tech-friendly state,” she said.

CTA’s knowledge about issues such as the nuance of cyber risk management and data privacy can also serve as a resource for legislators. “It’s a great opportunity. We really hope this will lead to a stronger, ongoing feedback process,” said Young.

Colorado is home to more than 14,500 electronics and IT companies that employ nearly 187,000 people, according CTA. In addition, Boulder ranks first in U.S. metro areas for startup density, and Denver has been recognized as the second-best place to launch a startup in the United States.

Allison Torres Burtka

By Allison Torres Burtka

Allison Torres Burtka, a longtime association journalist, is a freelance writer and editor in West Bloomfield, Michigan. MORE

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