Industrial research labs were invented in Europe but made the U.S. a tech superpower
Phys.org
February 24, 2026
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The United States surpassed Europe to become the world’s technological leader not through groundbreaking inventions alone but by revolutionizing how innovation was organized. A study by Frank Neffke of the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) and colleagues from Harvard University reveals that the U.S. shifted away from rigid European-style industrial research labs, which were isolated within individual companies, toward a more collaborative system involving academia, industry, and government. This organizational transformation allowed the U.S. to create an ecosystem where diverse expertise could intersect, fostering rapid technological advancement.
In Europe, innovation was primarily contained within large corporations, limiting collaboration and adaptability. In contrast, the U.S. developed flexible networks of institutions that encouraged cross-disciplinary research and entrepreneurship. Silicon Valley emerged as a hub for this new model, attracting talent, funding, and ideas from various sectors. This shift in structure enabled the U.S. to capitalize on emerging technologies more effectively than Europe, solidifying its position as a global tech leader.
The study highlights how organizational frameworks play a critical role in driving innovation. By breaking down barriers between
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Originally published on Phys.org on 2/24/2026