The Central Coast has long played a big role in developing leading-edge tech, an area ripe for inclusive job growth.
The microelectronics that power modern life are being pioneered right here on the Central Coast. Chips and semiconductors, lasers and photonics, autonomous systems and quantum computing—our region is at the global forefront of technological innovation.
These fields require more than university lab breakthroughs and startup ingenuity. They need highly specialized equipment and clean-room facilities. They need trained technicians to fabricate and assemble micro- and nano-scale components.
By harnessing the region’s innovation assets and delivering these essential resources, we can ensure that the technologies developed here remain anchored in the region, driving economic growth and creating good-paying jobs accessible to workers without a four-year degree.
What we're doing
Focused action to drive near-term wins and progress
1.
Growing the high-tech innovation startup ecosystem by capitalizing on university R&D horsepower to spin off and commercialize new technologies and create new companies.
2.
Expanding shared facilities for startups and growing companies by identifying opportunities to establish new facilities and scale existing ones, increasing access to specialized spaces for research, prototyping, manufacturing and workforce training.
3.
Elevating the region as a global high-tech hub by leading cross-sector coalitions to showcase regional assets and boost competitiveness in emerging fields such as semiconductors, advanced computing and AI.
SYSTEM CHANGES WE’RE CHAMPIONING
Broad-based activity to achieve the longer-term structural shifts, institutional alignment and cross-sector consensus needed for success
Pipeline of industrial facilities and ready-to-build sites
Expanding high-tech firms need ready-to-go facilities to scale R&D and manufacturing operations locally. REACH is collaborating with governments, developers and industry to address this critical bottleneck and keep businesses in the region.
Game-changing investment in the region’s high-tech ecosystem
To compete with the many states and cities directly supporting their high-tech ecosystems, we are advocating for the Central Coast to adopt similar enabling policies such as start-up grants, expansion incentives, and streamlined permitting.
Milestones + Momentum
Insights + Impact
A dynamic high-tech ecosystem
Explore the companies and unique assets driving a $3.3B regional industry with 13,000 jobs. …
The industry behind the tech
The region’s robust precision manufacturing sector provides a competitive advantage in innovation industries.…
Big Tech’s boldest breakthroughs
Microsoft, Google, and Amazon all launched major breakthroughs in quantum computing and AI right here on the Central Coast.…
