Even as the economy slows, you can't take away good old American ingenuity. The U.S. is home to Silicon Valley, most of the world's health care inventions, and the largest share of the world's patents.
Patenting is at its highest level since the Industrial Revolution, according to a new report from The Brookings Institution. And this innovation isn't driven by patent trolls but instead from long term drivers of growth.
Still, America produces only the 9th most patents per person, and could fall behind if it doesn't produce more scientists and engineers.
Increasingly, inventions are concentrated around unique institutions, unique companies, and unique cities. 63 percent of patents come from just 20 areas, and someone from San Jose is 600 times more likely to produce a patent than someone in McAllen, Texas.
#20 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Patents per million residents: 945
Average patents per year: 3,068
Top industry: Surgery and medical instruments
The Minneapolis-St. Paul area is a huge center for medical devices, and hosts the headquarters for Medtronic and St. Jude Medical. That industry is particularly aggressive about patenting and litigation. It's also the home of 3M, which has always been uniquely research focused.
Source: Brookings
#19 Ithaca, New York
Patents per million residents: 959
Average patents per year: 97
Top industry: Biotechnology
Technology and life science companies are drawn to the area by Cornell University, which provides an unusually highly educated workforce for such a small area.
Source: Brookings
#18 Albany, NY
Patents per million residents: 981
Average patents per year: 846
Top industry: Power systems
General Electric's primary global research center is located in nearby Niskayuna, which accounts for a large portion of the region's patents.
Source: Brookings
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