BUSINESSES

Businesses are defined as technology-based according to certain North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes identified by the U.S. Department of Labor, Washington Technology Center, Technology Alliance, and other groups. These businesses are generally defined as those in industries with 7% or more workers in technology occupations such as engineers, scientists, computer programmers, technicians, and statisticians. (The sectors themselves, not necessarily individual businesses, employ 7% or more technology workers.) By this definition, technology-based businesses exclude those that are strictly in manufacturing or sales.