The Most Inventive Towns in America. Small Towns Are Hubs For Innovators

The tinkerers who helped build America haven’t disappeared — they’re right next door. Our search for small-town patent hubs found surprising innovations from coast to coast.

This year, Russell May won a patent for a gadget that could help warn pilots about impending engine failure. Krishnan Ramu designed a more energy-efficient motor. Mark Froggatt came up with a device that helps companies pack more data into fiber-optic cables. These inventors share one thing in common: They live within 10 miles of one another in Blacksburg, Va. It’s "a little bit like a miniature Silicon Valley but without the traffic," says Mr. Froggatt.

Since Ben Franklin, the lone inventor has been an American icon. 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.

By REED ALBERGOTTI

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