The most successful high-tech companies in the world have gathered near San Francisco, California, in a place called "Silicon Valley". This is where Stanford University is located, where electronics pioneer Lee de Forest began his research, to whom many scientists of the world came together.
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 every month. New ideas emerge all the time, new projects (called start-ups) appear, into which venture capital flows. This is how Google and Apple once started, who literally designed their first projects in garages.
The name "Silicon (or Silicon) Valley" appeared due to the production of electronic equipment and semiconductors established here. For the first time this term was 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, because in the correct translation "silicon" means "silicon". The word "silicone" is consonant with "silicone", which is why it began to be used to designate the Technopark. Despite the formal correctness of the first option, the last term is perhaps even more common.
Silicon Valley has no administrative boundaries (not marked on maps). There are also no clear landmarks denoting its territory. This is practically the entire economic zone from San Francisco to San Jose. Valley Center - Stanford University, which leases out its vast areas.
The purpose of the long-term lease, which Leland Stanford stipulated in his will, was to create a high-tech center, which 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, construction began on an office park called the Stanford Industrial Park. It was the first facility entirely focused on technology. The first IT company to be accepted into Silicon Valley was Hewlett-Packard. To attract talented young scientists, various programs have been launched to provide them with financial support.
Today Silicon Valley is the largesthigh-tech center of the United States, and according to some sources - of the whole world. The offices of the largest and most influential electronics and software companies are located here. About three hundred thousand specialists are involved in the work.
US Silicon Valley is not the only project of its kind. This phrase today is a household name, denoting 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).
