High technology (high tech or high-tech), also known as advanced technology (advanced tech) or exotechnology,[1] is technology that is at the cutting edge: the highest form of technology available.[2] It can be defined as either the most complex or the newest technology on the market.[3] The opposite of high tech is low technology, referring to simple, often traditional or mechanical technology; for example, a slide rule is a low-tech calculating device.[4] [5] [6] When high tech becomes old, it becomes low tech, for example vacuum tube electronics. Further, high tech is related to the concept of mid-tech, that is a balance between the two opposite extreme qualities of low-tech and high tech. Mid-tech could be understood as an inclusive middle that combines the efficiency and versatility of digital/automated technology with low-tech's potential for autonomy and resilience.[7]
Startups working on high technologies (or developing new high technologies) are sometimes referred to as deep tech; the term may also refer to disruptive innovations or those based on scientific discoveries.[8]
High tech, as opposed to high-touch, may refer to self-service experiences that do not require human interaction.[9]
The phrase was used in a 1958 The New York Times story advocating "atomic energy" for Europe: "... Western Europe, with its dense population and its high technology ...."[10] Robert Metz used the term in a financial column in 1969, saying Arthur H. Collins of Collins Radio "controls a score of high technology patents in a variety of fields"[11] and in a 1971 article used the abbreviated form, "high tech".[12]
A widely used classification of high-technological manufacturing industries was provided by the OECD in 2006.[13] It is based on the intensity of research and development activities used in these industries within OECD countries, resulting in four distinct categories.[14]
Today, high tech consists a significant part of several economies. The Israeli economy has the highest ratio in the world, with the high tech sector accounting for 20% of the economy, high tech consitsts 9.3% of the American economy according to Statistca and CTech.[15] [16]
Multiple cities and hubs have been described as global startup ecosystems. GSER publishes a yearly ranking of global startup ecosystems.[17] [18] The study does yearly reports ranking the top 40 global startup hubs.[19]
| Rank | Changefrom 2023 | Hub | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sillicon Valley | ||
| 2 | New York City | ||
| 2 | London | ||
| 4 | Tel Aviv | ||
| 4 | Los Angeles | ||
| 6 | Boston | ||
| 7 | Singapore | ||
| 8 | Bengaluru | ||
| 9 | Seoul | ||
| 10 | Tokyo | ||
| 11 | Shanghai | ||
| 12 | Hyderabad | ||
| 13 | Amsterdam-Delta | ||
| 14 | Paris | ||
| 15 | Berlin | ||
| 16 | Miami | ||
| 17 | Chicago | ||
| 18 | Toronto-Waterloo | ||
| 19 | San Diego | ||
| 20 | Seattle | ||
| 21 | Washington D.C. | ||
| 21 | Sydney | ||
| 23 | Stockholm | ||
| 24 | Delhi | ||
| 25 | Philadelphia | ||
| 26 | São Paulo | ||
| 27 | Austin | ||
| 28 | Shenzhen | ||
| 29 | Atlanta | ||
| 30 | Denver-Boulder |
The following is a list of the 15 largest exporting countries of high tech products by value in millions of United States dollars, according to the United Nations.[20]
| Country | Value | Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 769,699.28 | 2022 | |
| 2 |  | 223,370.84 | 2022 | |
| 3 |  | 194,079.88 | 2022 | |
| 4 |  | 166,435.57 | 2022 | |
| 5 | 122,993.36 | 2022 | ||
| 6 | 98,537.98 | 2022 | ||
| 7 |  | 95,753.98 | 2022 | |
| 8 |  | 94,102.98 | 2022 | |
| 9 |  | 92,149.42 | 2022 | |
| 10 |  | 85,898.58 | 2022 | |
| 11 |  | 83,102.74 | 2022 | |
| 12 |  | 80,006.33 | 2022 | |
| 13 |  | 77,973.73 | 2022 | |
| 14 | 72,663.09 | 2022 | ||
| 15 |  | 66,214.45 | 2022 |