New NYU SPS Cities Emerging Technologies Index Highlights How Tech Progress Can Help Shape the Lives and Perceptions of US Cities

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Emerging Technologies Index Highlights How Tech Progress Helps Shape the Lives and Perceptions of US Cities

San Jose, San Francisco, New York, Washington, and Seattle Top the List of the Most Tech-Friendly and Innovative Urban Ecosystems

March 05, 2025
Modified June 24, 2025

NEW YORK, January 28, 2025— Today, US cities and urban centers are evolving into hubs of innovation where technology and communities intersect. The inaugural <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/academic-divisions-and-departments/jonathan-m-tisch-center-of-hospitality/2024-cities-emerging-technologies-index.html" target="_blank">Cities Emerging Technologies Index (CETI)</a>, launched by the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/homepage.html" target="_blank">NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS)</a>, evaluates the 55 most populous US cities and their metropolitan areas, highlighting their ability to harness and innovate emerging technologies to create more vibrant and desirable places to live, work, and play. This research, sponsored by <a href="/content/sps-nyu/about/nyu-sps-angie-kamath.html" target="_blank">Dean Angie Kamath</a> and the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/experience/how-youll-learn/experience-emerging-tech.html" target="_blank">NYU SPS Emerging Technologies Collaborative</a>, was conducted to benchmark the leading metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and census-designated places based on their capacity to generate and embrace emerging technologies. In this 2024 edition of the CETI project, NYU SPS researchers Drs. Vanja Bogicevic and Milos Bujisic found the top ten technology-friendly and innovative cities were: <ol class="p-list"> <li>San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, California</li> <li>San Francisco–Oakland– Berkeley, California</li> <li>New York–Newark–Jersey City, New York–New Jersey</li> <li>Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, Washington DC–Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia</li> <li>Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, Washington</li> <li>Boston–Cambridge–Newton, Massachusetts–New Hampshire</li> <li>Austin–Round Rock–Georgetown, Texas</li> <li>Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, California</li> <li>Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, Colorado</li> <li>San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, California</li> </ol> “By examining how cities and metropolitan areas adopt and nurture emerging technologies, the NYU SPS Cities Emerging Technologies Index not only spotlights excellence but also offers a roadmap for urban leaders to enhance and elevate their communities,” said Kamath, the Harvey J. Stedman Dean of NYU SPS. “Our aim with the Index is to help inspire cities to fully embrace technology’s potential in creating sustainable and inclusive environments for all residents and businesses.”

Key Finding Takeaways

Entertainment as a Catalyst for Innovation—Cities offering diverse entertainment and high–quality life experiences tend to attract more young talent, which drives technological innovation and development. Economic and Policy Factors Drive Growth—Robust economic policies around education, patents, taxation, and immigration are key drivers of tech sector growth, with cities like San Jose, San Francisco, and New York benefiting from clear and supportive frameworks. AI and Emerging Technologies—Cities leading the charge in AI and emerging technologies are well–positioned for future growth. Seattle and Austin are highlighted for their residents’ enthusiasm for these technologies. Infrastructure is Critical—Both physical and digital infrastructure play a pivotal role in fostering a thriving tech ecosystem. Cities with solid infrastructure attract more investments, talent, and startups, fueling continuous innovation. Regional Strengths and Weaknesses—While coastal cities like San Jose and New York dominate the rankings, smaller areas such as Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina, top the lists of residents’ satisfaction with public services, and others like Rochester and Buffalo, New York, stand out for their residents’ confidence in emerging technologies. “The Index will play a crucial role in helping guide city governance, infrastructure investments, and policy-making to promote a more equitable diffusion of innovation across communities,” said <a href="/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/20535-vanja-bogicevic.html">Vanja Bogicevic</a>, clinical associate professor at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and co-author of the 2024 CETI. “By utilizing this research, cities and respective MSAs can advocate for building out technological capacities among their residents and businesses to prepare them for the next wave of innovation.” According to <a href="/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/20706-milos-bujisic.html">Milos Bujisic</a>, clinical associate professor at the NYU SPS Division of Programs in Business’ Integrated Marketing program and co-director of NYU SPS Research, these findings were based on the evaluation of several factors, including the activities of technology companies, research spending, education, city livability, and perceived innovativeness and involvement of residents in city technology initiatives. The Index evaluates two main CETI  measurement components—the City Entertainment & Habitability Index and the Tech Economy Index. “Each city's final CETI score is a weighted average of these measurements to predict the city’s current technological landscape and its capacity to improve technologically over the next six years,” said Bujisic, a co-author of the 2024 CETI. For the complete analysis of city rankings in emerging technologies and to uncover city-specific insights, download the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/179vKFfc3NmfvP6Y2cbhFHdBY7NRTkYkF/view" target="_blank">full report</a>. If you represent a city or metropolitan area and wish to schedule a discussion or presentation regarding the findings related to your area, please email us at <a href="mailto:NYUSPSCommunications@nyu.edu">NYUSPSCommunications@nyu.edu</a>.

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Emerging Technologies Index Highlights How Tech Progress Helps Shape the Lives and Perceptions of US Cities

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