1 The Innovator Imperative

"Our nation knows what it takes to innovate," the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) declared in its 2015 report "Innovation: An American Imperative." To be a "global innovation leader" requires federal support, tax incentives, the pursuit of emerging technologies, a welcome environment for talent, better STEM education, and a meritocratic culture. But, warns "Innovation" and its five hundred signatories from Google to the American Dairy Science Association, "now is not the time to rest on past success." While competitors have adopted our playbook, the United States has stagnated, putting the American dream at risk. 1