A Duke University study by Vivek Wadhwa found, “In 2006, foreign nationals residing in the United States were named as inventors or co-inventors in an astounding 25.6 percent of patent applications filed from the United States.”

“Foreign students, skilled immigrants, and doctorates in science and engineering play a major role in driving scientific innovation in the United States,” according to a study by Keith Maskus, an economist at the University of Colorado, Aaditya Mattoo, lead economist at the World Bank’s Development Economics Group, and Gnanaraj Chellaraj, a consultant to the World Bank. Their research found that for every 100 international students who receive science or engineering Ph.D.’s from American universities, the nation gains 62 future patent applications.

Economists have long seen patents as important to driving innovation and economic growth in an economy. The examples of Silver Peak, IronKey and Boku illustrate openness to talent from around the world continues to help fuel innovation in America.