Comment by CalChris

When Japan opened up to the West, Korekiyo Takahashi visited the US in 1886. "We said, 'What is it that makes the United States such a great nation?' And we investigated and we found that it was patents, and we will have patents."

http://www.iphalloffame.com/korekiyo_takahashi/

You need to reward innovators or you won't have innovation.