Paige Clayton

Paige Clayton is an Assistant Professor in the School of City and Regional Planning at Georgia Tech and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Policy. She is affiliated with Georgia Tech’s EPIcenter, Georgia Policy Labs at Georgia State University, and the Innovation Policy Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School. Her research explores regional economic development, entrepreneurship, innovation, and science & technology policy.

• Ph.D. in Public Policy (2020) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• BS in Public Policy from Georgia Tech

Dr. Clayton’s work examines the role of entrepreneurial support organizations, social networks, and policy frameworks in shaping regional innovation ecosystems. She employs quantitative methods to analyze startup survival, funding disparities, and the geographic diffusion of knowledge. Her research emphasizes practical implications for policymakers and regional planners.

Recent trends in her publications include: technology transfer from universities, R&D-driven industrial emergence, and equity in entrepreneurial finance. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Scientific awards and fellowships include:

• Nancy W. Stegman Fellowship
• Dissertation Completion Fellowship