The most successful high-tech companies in the world gathered near San Francisco, California, in a place called Silicon Valley. Stanford University is located here, pioneer in electronics Lee de Forest began here , and many scientists of the world gathered here.
Now about eight hundred thousand people work in the Valley. It has become literally home to hundreds of key American corporations specializing in the development of modern information and electronic technologies. An average of ten billion dollars is invested in development on a monthly basis. New ideas arise constantly, new projects appear (called start-ups), in which venture capital flows . So, Google and Apple once started, who built their first projects literally in garages.
The name "Silicon (or Silicon) Valley" appeared due to the production of electronic equipment and semiconductors established here. This term was first used by journalist D. Hofler in 1971. The technopark approved the idea, after which the word became the official name.
In Russia, the term “Silicon Valley” is often used, since in the correct translation “silicon” means “silicon”. The word "silicone" is consonant with "silicone", which is why it began to be used to refer to Technopark. Despite the formal correctness of the first option, the latter term is perhaps even more common.
Silicon Valley has no administrative boundaries (not marked on the maps). There are also no explicit landmarks indicating its territory. This is almost the entire economic zone from San Francisco to San Jose. Valley Center - Stanford University, which leases its vast territory.
The purpose of the long-term lease, which Leland Stanford stipulated in his will, was to create a high-tech center that would include enterprises close to cooperation with the university. So, in 1946, the Stanford Research Institute began to form, which was necessary to support the economy of the region.
In 1951, an office park began to be built, known as the Stanford Industrial Park. This was the first facility entirely focused on technology. The first IT company to host Silicon Valley was Hewlett-Packard. To attract talented young scientists, various programs have begun to provide them with financial support.
Today, Silicon Valley is the largest high-tech center in the United States, and according to some sources - the whole world. The offices of the largest and most influential companies producing electronics and software are located here. About three hundred thousand specialists are involved in the work.
Silicon Valley USA is not the only project of its kind. This phrase is a household word today, designating a zone of high technologies. In other countries of the world, in particular, in Russia, work is also underway to create an analogue of the Valley (Skolkovo).