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As part of our ongoing search for America’s greatest innovation, we’re figuring out which qualities make the United States such an effective incubator for creative ideas.

Alec Ross used to be senior adviser on innovation for Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state. It was a brand new position designed to find out-of-the-box solutions to the world’s problems. His new book, “Industries of the Future,” is all about the changing global economy and where we as a country fit into it.

According to Ross, America’s innovative spirit can be traced all the way back to our ancestors.

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