High technology (high tech or high-tech), also known as advanced technology (advanced tech) or exotechnology,[failed verification] is technology that is at the cutting edge: the highest form of technology available. It can be defined as either the most complex or the newest technology on the market. 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. 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.
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.
High tech, as opposed to high-touch, may refer to self-service experiences that do not require human interaction.
History
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 ...." 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" and in a 1971 article used the abbreviated form, "high tech".
A widely used classification of high-technological industries was provided by the OECD in 2006. It is based on the intensity of research and development activities used in these industries within OECD countries, resulting in four distinct categories.
In the 21st century, the high tech industry is a significant part of several advanced economies. The Israeli economy has the highest ratio in the world, with the high tech sector accounting for 20% of the economy. High tech makes up 9.3% of the American economy according to Statista and CTech.
Ranking of startup ecosystems
Multiple cities and hubs have been described as global startup ecosystems. GSER publishes a yearly ranking of global startup ecosystems. The study does yearly reports ranking the top 40 global startup hubs.
| Rank | Change from 2023 | Hub |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |  Sillicon Valley |
| 2 | |  London |
| 2 | | New York City |
| 4 |  (1) |  Tel Aviv |
| 4 | Los Angeles | |
| 6 | Boston | |
| 7 | (1) |  Singapore |
| 8 |  (1) |  Beijing |
| 9 | (3) |  Seoul |
| 10 | (5) |  Tokyo |
| 11 | (2) | Shanghai |
| 12 | (1) | Washington, D.C. |
| 13 | (1) |  Amsterdam-Delta |
| 14 | (4) |  Paris |
| 15 | (2) |  Berlin |
| 16 | (7) | Miami |
| 17 | (2) | Chicago |
| 18 | (1) |  Toronto-Waterloo |
| 19 | (3) | San Diego |
| 20 | (10) | Seattle |
| 21 |  Bengaluru-Karnataka | |
| 21 |  Sydney | |
| 23 |  Stockholm | |
| 24 | Delhi | |
| 25 | (2) | Philadelphia |
| 26 |  São Paulo | |
| 27 | Austin | |
| 28 | (7) | Shenzhen |
| 29 | Atlanta | |
| 30 | Denver-Boulder | |
| 31 | (5) |  Zurich |
| 32 | (1) | Melbourne |
| 33 | (4) | Munich |
| 34 | Vancouver | |
| 35 | Salt Lake-Provo | |
| 36 | (2) | Hangzhou |
| 37 | Mumbai | |
| 38 | Dallas | |
| 39 | (1) | Montreal |
| 40 | (1) |  Copenhagen |
| 40 |  Greater Helsinki |
List of countries by high tech exports
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: 2023 data is available; see source given.. (November 2024) |
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.
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 769,699.28 | 2022 |
| 2 | Germany | 223,370.84 | 2022 |
| 3 |  Hong Kong | 194,079.88 | 2022 |
| 4 | United States | 166,435.57 | 2022 |
| 5 |  Vietnam | 122,993.36 | 2022 |
| 6 | South Korea | 98,537.98 | 2022 |
| 7 | France | 95,753.98 | 2022 |
| 8 | Singapore | 94,102.98 | 2022 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 92,149.42 | 2022 |
| 10 |  Mexico | 85,898.58 | 2022 |
| 11 | Japan | 83,102.74 | 2022 |
| 12 |  Ireland | 80,006.33 | 2022 |
| 13 | Switzerland | 77,973.73 | 2022 |
| 14 | United Kingdom | 72,663.09 | 2022 |
| 15 |  Malaysia | 66,214.45 | 2022 |
See also
- Electronics
- Electronics industry
- Photonics industry
- Nuclear technology
- Quantum technology
- Intermediate technology – sometimes used to mean technology between low and high technology
- Industrial design
- List of emerging technologies
- Semiconductor industry
- Big Tech
- Innovation
References
- Advanced technology definition
- Cortright, Joseph; Mayer, Heike (January 2001). High Tech Specialization: A Comparison of High Technology Centers (PDF). Brookings Institution, Center on Urban & Metropolitan Policy.
- Steenhuis, H.; Bruijn, E. J. De (July 2006). "High technology revisited: Definition and position" (PDF). 2006 IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology (PDF). Vol. 2. pp. 1080–1084. doi:10.1109/ICMIT.2006.262389. ISBN 1-4244-0147-X. S2CID 32767300. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- "Know How To Use a Slide Rule? - Slashdot". science.slashdot.org. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
- "Slide Rules Were the Original Personal Computers". 5 November 2015.
- Slide Rules & Calculators https://www.tnmoc.org/slide-rules-calculators
- Kostakis, Vasilis; Pazaitis, Alex; Liarokapis, Minas (2023-06-20). "Beyond high-tech versus low-tech: A tentative framework for sustainable urban data governance". BigData&Society. 10 (1). doi:10.1177/20539517231180583. ISSN 2053-9517.
- "What is Deep Tech and which startups are marking the road (not Uber)". Startup Business (in Italian). 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- Williams, Howard (6 June 2019). "Do Customers Want High Tech or High Touch?". Home Business Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
- "Atomic Power for Europe", The New York Times, February 4, 1958, p. 17.
- Metz, Robert (1969). "Market Place: Collins Versus The Middle Man", The New York Times, April 24, 1969, p. 64.
- Metz, Robert (1971). "Market Place: So What Made E.D.S. Plunge?", The New York Times, November 11, 1971, p. 72.
- Hatzichronoglou, Thomas: "Revision of the High-Technology Sector and Product Classification", OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers, No. 1997/02, OECD Publishing, Paris.
- High Tech Trademarks by John Mendenhall, Art Direction Book Co; First Edition (January 1, 1985) ISBN 0881080241
- "Tech GDP as a percent of total U.S. GDP 2022". Statista. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- "For Israeli economy, no substitute for high-tech dominance". ctech. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- Genome, Startup. "Startup Genome". Startup Genome. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- Wrobel, Sharon (10 June 2024). "Tel Aviv moves up to 4th place in annual ranking of global tech ecosystems".
- "Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2024 (Top 40)". Startup Genome. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- High-technology exports (current US$). "United Nations, Comtrade database through the WITS platform".
High technology high tech or high tech also known as advanced technology advanced tech or exotechnology failed verification is technology that is at the cutting edge the highest form of technology available It can be defined as either the most complex or the newest technology on the market 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 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 Electrical automotive VinFast plant using industrial robotics technology in Haiphong Vietnam 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 High tech as opposed to high touch may refer to self service experiences that do not require human interaction HistoryMatam high tech park in Silicon Wadi Haifa Israel 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 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 and in a 1971 article used the abbreviated form high tech A widely used classification of high technological industries was provided by the OECD in 2006 It is based on the intensity of research and development activities used in these industries within OECD countries resulting in four distinct categories In the 21st century the high tech industry is a significant part of several advanced economies The Israeli economy has the highest ratio in the world with the high tech sector accounting for 20 of the economy High tech makes up 9 3 of the American economy according to Statista and CTech Ranking of startup ecosystemsMultiple cities and hubs have been described as global startup ecosystems GSER publishes a yearly ranking of global startup ecosystems The study does yearly reports ranking the top 40 global startup hubs Rank Change from 2023 Hub1 Sillicon Valley2 London2 New York City4 1 Tel Aviv4 Los Angeles6 Boston7 1 Singapore8 1 Beijing9 3 Seoul10 5 Tokyo11 2 Shanghai12 1 Washington D C 13 1 Amsterdam Delta14 4 Paris15 2 Berlin16 7 Miami17 2 Chicago18 1 Toronto Waterloo19 3 San Diego20 10 Seattle21 Bengaluru Karnataka21 Sydney23 Stockholm24 Delhi25 2 Philadelphia26 Sao Paulo27 Austin28 7 Shenzhen29 Atlanta30 Denver Boulder31 5 Zurich32 1 Melbourne33 4 Munich34 Vancouver35 Salt Lake Provo36 2 Hangzhou37 Mumbai38 Dallas39 1 Montreal40 1 Copenhagen40 Greater HelsinkiList of countries by high tech exportsThis section needs to be updated The reason given is 2023 data is available see source given Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information November 2024 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 Country Value Year1 China 769 699 28 20222 Germany 223 370 84 20223 Hong Kong 194 079 88 20224 United States 166 435 57 20225 Vietnam 122 993 36 20226 South Korea 98 537 98 20227 France 95 753 98 20228 Singapore 94 102 98 20229 Netherlands 92 149 42 202210 Mexico 85 898 58 202211 Japan 83 102 74 202212 Ireland 80 006 33 202213 Switzerland 77 973 73 202214 United Kingdom 72 663 09 202215 Malaysia 66 214 45 2022See alsoLook up high tech in Wiktionary the free dictionary Electronics Electronics industry Photonics industry Nuclear technology Quantum technology Intermediate technology sometimes used to mean technology between low and high technology Industrial design List of emerging technologies Semiconductor industry Big Tech InnovationReferencesAdvanced technology definition Cortright Joseph Mayer Heike January 2001 High Tech Specialization A Comparison of High Technology Centers PDF Brookings Institution Center on Urban amp Metropolitan Policy Steenhuis H Bruijn E J De July 2006 High technology revisited Definition and position PDF 2006 IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology PDF Vol 2 pp 1080 1084 doi 10 1109 ICMIT 2006 262389 ISBN 1 4244 0147 X S2CID 32767300 Archived from the original on 2023 10 28 Retrieved 2023 07 22 Know How To Use a Slide Rule Slashdot science slashdot org 28 September 2007 Retrieved 2019 11 04 Slide Rules Were the Original Personal Computers 5 November 2015 Slide Rules amp Calculators https www tnmoc org slide rules calculators Kostakis Vasilis Pazaitis Alex Liarokapis Minas 2023 06 20 Beyond high tech versus low tech A tentative framework for sustainable urban data governance BigData amp Society 10 1 doi 10 1177 20539517231180583 ISSN 2053 9517 What is Deep Tech and which startups are marking the road not Uber Startup Business in Italian 2018 04 20 Retrieved 2020 10 13 Williams Howard 6 June 2019 Do Customers Want High Tech or High Touch Home Business Magazine Retrieved 2020 03 22 Atomic Power for Europe The New York Times February 4 1958 p 17 Metz Robert 1969 Market Place Collins Versus The Middle Man The New York Times April 24 1969 p 64 Metz Robert 1971 Market Place So What Made E D S Plunge The New York Times November 11 1971 p 72 Hatzichronoglou Thomas Revision of the High Technology Sector and Product Classification OECD Science Technology and Industry Working Papers No 1997 02 OECD Publishing Paris High Tech Trademarks by John Mendenhall Art Direction Book Co First Edition January 1 1985 ISBN 0881080241 Tech GDP as a percent of total U S GDP 2022 Statista Retrieved 2024 06 25 For Israeli economy no substitute for high tech dominance ctech 2024 06 04 Retrieved 2024 06 25 Genome Startup Startup Genome Startup Genome Retrieved 2024 06 13 Wrobel Sharon 10 June 2024 Tel Aviv moves up to 4th place in annual ranking of global tech ecosystems Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2024 Top 40 Startup Genome Retrieved 2024 08 15 High technology exports current US United Nations Comtrade database through the WITS platform
