Two hundred years ago, Pennsylvania led the American Revolution. One hundred years ago, Pennsylvania led the Industrial Revolution. Today, with Gov. Tom Ridge at the helm, Pennsylvania is looking to stake its claim as the leader in the technological revolution.

Since he was sworn in as Pennsylvania's 43rd governor on Jan. 17, 1995, Ridge has been working to deliver on the agenda he outlined as a candidate: making Pennsylvania a leader among states and a competitor among nations. That includes the use of
technology.

Ridge is busy cultivating high-tech jobs -- eliminating the state's tax on computer services; creating a new Research and Development tax credit; and convening an advisory group of technology entrepreneurs, called Tech 21. Pennsylvania now features the innovative high-tech partnership called the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse, which has a goal of making southwestern Pennsylvania the new home of next-generation system-on-a-chip technology.



Q. You clearly are one of the nation's most tech-friendly governors. When did your interest in technology begin? Why is it
so important in your agenda as governor?

A. My interest in technology began while serving as a U.S. congressman and has been a top priority of my administration as governor.

It is clear to me that technology will be the driving economic force in the new millennium, and technology companies offer dramatic economic potential for Pennsylvania families in the 21st century. The technology field offers lucrative, family-sustaining jobs, and Pennsylvania offers the educational opportunities and quality of life high-tech companies and their employees are looking for.

When I became governor in 1995, I immediately set about changing the business climate and building a foundation to make Pennsylvania a global technology leader. Families and employers have saved nearly $7.4 billion through tax cuts, workers'-compensation reform, electric competition and reduced red tape. These savings have helped to create nearly 300,000 new jobs.

To prepare our workers for the new economy, we've enacted a comprehensive program to bring technology education to every age group and every classroom in Pennsylvania.

We begin even before our children go to school -- with a new approach to preschool learning called CyberStart. We are linking 4,000 child-care centers to the Internet -- to harness its educational power for preschoolers.

Through our nationally acclaimed Link to Learn program, we have invested over $160 million in community-network development, computers and technology training for teachers and students.

Our SciTech Scholars program tackles one of Pennsylvania's long-standing problems -- the migration of our young people to other states. It provides generous scholarships to Pennsylvania students studying technology and doing well. In return, they agree to work in Pennsylvania for up to three years after they graduate.

For those already in the workforce seeking the good technology jobs that don't always require a four-year degree, we have launched our GI Bill for the new economy. The GI Bill helps those Pennsylvanians who don't seek a four-year education, but do want more education, by providing scholarships for technical training and associate degrees.

These efforts, and others, are part of an overall strategy to grow our local technology companies, attract new ones to Pennsylvania and provide our workers with the tools and training they need to succeed in the high-tech economy.



Q. Obviously, technology is a major part of the state's plan for economic development. What is the state's plan, and what kind of guiding philosophy lies behind such a plan?

A. Our investments in technology are part of an overall strategy to make Pennsylvania a vigorous competitor for jobs. For too long, the state's tax and regulatory climate drove businesses to other states and forced our young people to look elsewhere to find good-paying, family-sustaining jobs.

Pennsylvania's business climate had to change, and I identified the technology industry as