The United States of Innovation: How American industry can thrive for another 250 years

Two and a half centuries ago, the United States was founded as an innovative experiment in self-government. The spirit of risk-taking that accompanied signing the Declaration of Independence has informed much of American industry over the ensuing years. It helped give rise to everything from the airplane and moon landers to the microchip and personal computer. The challenge is keeping this culture of creativity and ingenuity alive as we head into the next quarter millennium, while ensuring it delivers for all and not just the few—or at the expense of others. At the annual meeting of Fast Company’s Impact Council, our 300-person collective of executives from some of the world’s most forward-thinking businesses, members used America’s past to assess both its present and its prospects for the future. Held at Grace Farms, in New Canaan, Connecticut, the daylong workshop brought together council members in panels and roundtables to discuss topics like the future of America’s workforce and how to rebuild the country’s innovative edge. We asked speakers to weigh in on America’s most pressing challenges and what opportunities lie ahead. [Illustrations: Peter Oumanski] What’s one misconcep…