High technology (high tech), also known as advanced technology (advanced tech) or exotechnology,[1][failed verification]istechnology that is at the cutting edge: the highest form of technology available.[2] It can be defined as either the most complex or the newest technology on the market.[3] 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.[4][5][6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
High-tech, as opposed to high-touch, may refer to self-service experiences that do not require human interaction.[9]
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 ...."[10] 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"[11] and in a 1971 article used the abbreviated form, "high tech".[12]
A widely used classification of high-technological manufacturing industries was provided by the OECD in 2006.[13] It is based on the intensity of research and development activities used in these industries within OECD countries, resulting in four distinct categories.[14]
Today, High tech consists a significant part of several economies. The Israeli economy has the highest ratio in the world, with the high tech sector accounting for 20% of the economy, high tech consitsts 9.3% of the American economy according to Statistca and CTech.[15][16]
Multiple cities and hubs have been described as global Startup ecosystems. GSER publishes a yearly ranking of global startup ecosystems.[17][18] The study does yearly reports ranking the top 40 global startup hubs.[18]
| Rank | Change
from 2023 |
Hub |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
 Sillicon Valley
|
| 2 |
|
New York City
|
| 2 |
|
 London
|
| 4 |  (1)
|
 Tel Aviv
|
| 4 |
|
Los Angeles
|
| 6 |
|
Boston
|
| 7 | (1)
|
 Singapore
|
| 8 |  (1)
|
 Beijing
|
| 9 | (3)
|
 Seoul
|
| 10 | (5)
|
 Tokyo
|
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.[19]
| # | 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 |
98,537.96 | 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 |
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Technology and related concepts
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