New Research Shows Immigrant Inventors Are Powering U.S. Technological Progress

In a time of heated debate over immigration policies, new data reveals a fact that few can ignore: immigrants are a major driver of innovation in the United States. According to a groundbreaking study by Stanford economist Rebecca Diamond, foreign-born inventors are not only responsible for a disproportionate share of patents, but their influence extends far beyond their individual contributions. They make their U.S.-born collaborators more productive, enhancing the overall innovation landscape.

While immigrants represent just 16% of the inventors in the U.S., their work accounts for 23% of the patents filed between 1990 and 2016. Even more impressive, immigrant inventors contributed a quarter of the total economic value tied to these innovations. Their impact is felt across diverse industries, from electronics and chemicals to cutting-edge technologies in medicine.

“The high-skilled immigrants we have in the U.S. are incredibly productive and innovative,” says Diamond. “They’re disproportionately contributing to innovation in our society.”

The study also uncovered a surprising benefit of working with immigrant inventors: when these key players tragically passed away before age 60, their co-authors saw a sharp decline in productivity—highlighting how integral immigrants are to fostering the creative output of their native-born peers. For policymakers considering changes to immigration policy, this research offers a clear takeaway: immigrants aren’t just participants in the U.S. economy—they are pivotal to its continued leadership in global innovation.

Could new visa policies jeopardize America’s competitive edge? Diamond’s findings suggest we should think twice.

Innovation thrives on diversity, and immigrants are a key ingredient.

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/new-look-immigrants-outsize-contribution-innovation-us