Small Towns Are Hubs For Innovators

A geographical study of the last four years of U.S. patents shows that innovation and inventions are happening in places big and small.

1 minute read

July 24, 2006, 8:00 AM PDT

By Alex Pearlstein

"Even with today's complex technologies and giant corporations that spend billions on research, small-time inventors remain a potent force -- consistently accounting for about 15% of all U.S. patents in recent years, by some estimates."

"What is changing: their ZIP Codes. Combing through the more than 475,000 U.S. patents granted in the past four years reveals a new map of the places where individual inventors are busy dreaming and tinkering. This shifting geography of innovation says a lot about how the American economy is changing -- and underscores its resilience."

[Editor's note: Although this article is only available to WSJ subscribers, it is available to Planetizen readers for free through the link below for a period of seven days.]

FULL STORY: The Most Inventive Towns in America

Saturday, July 22, 2006 in The Wall Street Journal

Community / Economic Development Technology United States

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