How to encourage the next great U.S. innovations

To grow, the nation must innovate — but how? Post readers share their vision and ideas.

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Be continually dynamic

"To think that what is taught today is tangible tomorrow is foolish. We need to be able to pick up any type of available technology or format immediately. The Internet's resources are proliferating at a rate never seen before its advent. We need the ability to analyze and correlate this information to actual life-related applications." -- ScottEdTech

Paul Sakuma / AP

Make businesses more efficent

"At almost any level of business, faster and cheaper fulfillment spells efficiency; even if early adopters experience only a 10% improvement at first, over the course of a year one more person could be employed, or the business expanded modestly, without pressure on prices. " -- UbiquitousMarketS

Lynne Sladky / AP

Empower local communities

"Provide mechanisms and incentives to communities that allow them to reduce or terminate government services. One example would be a means for a local community to determine that a portion of its area might not need waste service, road repair, etc." -- chase.rowan

Steven Senne / AP

Change immigration policy

"Provide green cards to foreign students earning graduate STEM degrees so they can create jobs in the U.S., not overseas. Second, create a visa for entrepreneurs -- and if their business succeeds, they should get a green card. America cannot afford to wait." -- John Feinblatt

Gene J. Puskar / AP

Support everyday innovation

"The public sector is increasingly facing fiscally austere budgets. We need to encourage and reward the creative thinking among public managers and everyday civil servants. But they must first be empowered by us, the taxpayers." -- Ash Roughani

POOL / REUTERS

Encourage competition

"Only two systems have spurred innovation consistently: (1) cash prizes/competitions for specific innovations and (2) actual templates that motivate not only good ideas but a process for road-testing the idea." -- millerandrewj

ERNESTO BENAVIDES / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Listen to new ideas

"Large businesses are often the worst innovators because they have the most experts, who already know what is right. That's why most successful innovations come from start-ups and small companies not inhibited by that limitation." -- Larry MacDonald

Jeffrey MacMillan / JEFFREY MACMILLAN

Share ideas

"It may seem counterintuitive, but eliminating the ability of companies to 'protect' their so-called 'intellectual property' will actually promote innovation. Those innovating won't feel frustrated by having to overcome legal barriers. Eliminate barriers and innovation will flower." -- SteveR1

JO YONG-HAK / REUTERS

Pay it forward

"Collaborate with successful innovators in a new foundation to provide legal, financial & expert assistance to underfunded inventors when they are faced with infringement." -- momshugs

Nati Harnik / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Give innovators the microphone

"Have a page on your Web site and in print, in The Washington Post specifically for American innovations that can be sourced, manufactured and assembled in the USA which can be sold world wide. Give them the spotlight. Give them the microphone. Focus on them and ask others to pay attention." -- rexsolomon

Charles Dharapak / AP

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

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epa03704474 A Muslim woman at the ThetKalPyin temporary relief camp near Sittwe in Rakhine State, Western Myanmar, 17 May 2013. A total of 13 people were confirmed dead in neighboring Bangladesh as people began to return home from shelters, a day after Cyclone Mahasen hit the coast, officials said 17 May. EPA/NYEIN CHAN NAING

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**LOC IMAGE** Geo. Hamilton, Assistant Superintendent, Cambria Iron Mills house, Johnstown Flood, May 31st, 1889. (Photo by Ernest Walter Histed / Library of Congress)

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David Beckham announces his retirement

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