U.S., Once Top of the List, No longer Among Most Innovative Countries

By one method of measurement innovation accounts for more than 40 percent of economic growth and employment in the U.S., but the level of innovation has declined steadily since 2013 when this country was number one. As of February 2021 we are no longer in the top ten. An article in IP Watchdog argues that Biden’s pick for the head of the USPTO will be one of his most important. He or she will need to stress intellectual property protection because reliable and enforceable intellectual IP rights drive innovation. Inventors taking risks will be especially important as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.. According to the article, the USPTO’s next director needs to act with a sense of urgency in reforming our IP system.