U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the first 12 communities that will be designated Manufacturing Communities as part of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative. The U.S. Commerce Department-led program is designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in communities nationwide by supporting the development of long-term economic development strategies that help communities expand private investment in manufacturing and increase international trade and exports.

In a recent blog article, SSTI reports the spending and intensity of U.S. research & development from 2006 to 2011. During this five year period, U.S. total R&D investment grew by 23.37 percent. California, in addition to ranking near the top of the list of R&D-focused states, leads in total R&D spending. In 2011, the state's spending reached $91.4 billion, accounting for more than one-fifth all U.S. research investment. Other high-ranking states include Massachusetts, Texas, Maryland, and New York.