California, one of the nation's leading science and technology states, was one of the hardest hit states in the country during the recent economic recession. The state lost 1.3 million jobs and faced years of government deficits which forced difficult decisions on programs and infrastructure essential to its high-tech economy. But despite the challenges, California remains one of the top environments for high-tech innovation, due in part to the different strengths of three key regions in the state.
