Massachusetts is one of the most competitive locations for technology employers and employees thanks to the Mass. High Technology Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan lobbying organization that represents the Commonwealths—and the world’s—leading technology employers.  Founded in 1977, the Council is comprised of CEO-level executives, making it nimble, results-oriented and unbowed by political risk as it works to support policies and initiatives that benefit all sectors of the state’s diverse technology economy.  Council members employ hundreds of thousands of skilled workers in all of Massachusetts’ key technology sectors, including communications, clean energy technology, computer hardware, defense technology, higher education, life sciences, semiconductor, and software.

Because our public policy priorities are set directly by our member CEOs, we are able to pursue an aggressive agenda focused on education, economic, regulatory and energy/infrastructure issues of concern. This unique approach has resulted in many historic victories, including the passage of Proposition 2 ½, the creation of the state’s Research & Development Tax Credit, and the first-ever systemic investment in science and technology.

In 2003, the Council formed the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative (now the Defense Technology Initiative), a public-private partnership that led the state's successful strategy to preserve Hanscom Air Force Base and the Natick Soldiers Systems Center - and the related 33,000 jobs - through the 2005 federal base closing process. Today DTI continues to enhance the competitiveness of the New England defense and homeland security technology clusters.

The Council also manages two member programs, which provide exceptional cost savings and superior service for technology employers’ energy and workers' compensation needs.