Information Technology
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L.A. County Information Technology
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Few countries in California have all of the elements necessary to become world-class centers of information technology innovation. Los Angeles County has a unique mix of entrepreneurs, inventors, institutional investors, leading universities, and a highly educated workforce that have joined forces to make the metropolitan area one of the most important high-tech hubs in the United States.
Information technology, including computer and peripheral manufacturing, solar cell manufacturing, software publishing and satellite communications, employed 20,900 in Los Angeles County in 2010.
The computer peripheral manufacturing segment is heavily clustered in California, as the west region is home to most computer-oriented industries, both hardware and software, which encourages peripheral manufacturers to locate here to facilitate cooperation and a reliable supply of skilled labor. California alone accounts for about 26% of all US computer peripheral manufacturing establishments. Neighboring the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the highly globalized nature of this industry further increases the attractiveness of L.A County for easy access to major shipping centers while minimizing travel times to and from Asian suppliers and outsourcing manufacturers.
L.A. County is also pioneering in solar cell manufacturing. Spectrolab, Inc., a leading manufacturer of space solar cells and panels and terrestrial concentrator solar cells, broke industry records with its development of a solar cell with the ability to convert 41.6 percent of the sun’s rays into electric power.
Demand for this cluster is driven by consumer, businesses as well as government spending. L.A. County is leading in modernizing government and community entities with the help of Satellite communications technology. The Emergency Satellite Communications Network (ESCN) is designed to be the backbone for the Emergency Management Information System (EMIS) that L.A. County fire, law enforcement, health, and safety agencies rely on for communications in the event of a disaster. All 88 cities within L.A. County rely on the EMIS network to connect to critical resources from medical, police, sheriff, fire and City Hall agencies in an emergency.