
Forgotten rustbelts are becoming "brainbelts" - innovation hubs where industrial skills meet academic research. From Akron to Eindhoven, this book reveals how collaborative ecosystems are revitalizing economies worldwide, challenging the notion that manufacturing regions are destined for decline.
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Something unexpected is happening in places we've written off. Akron, Ohio. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eindhoven, Netherlands. These former industrial powerhouses-once symbols of economic decline-are experiencing remarkable revivals. But not through government bailouts or attempts to resurrect old industries. Instead, they're transforming through collaborative innovation ecosystems that Antoine van Agtmael and Fred Bakker call "brainbelts." The conventional wisdom that manufacturing would continue fleeing America and Europe for cheaper shores began cracking around 2012. During a business trip to Asia, van Agtmael was startled when a Taiwanese executive expressed fear of American competition-a complete reversal after decades of Western businesses feeling threatened by Asian manufacturers. The executive admitted, "We're being squeezed" by American R&D capabilities that were "so far ahead." What's happening? After decades of obsession with making things cheap, the future now belongs to making things smart. Pittsburgh exemplifies this transformation. Once a steel powerhouse with over 1,000 factories, the city suffered devastating decline from 1945-1985. Today, healthcare and education drive its revival, with tech giants like Google and Uber establishing operations next to Carnegie Mellon's renowned robotics center. The pattern repeats across numerous regions-in Akron, 1,000 startups now employ more people than the four big tire companies did during manufacturing's heyday. The future belongs not to those who produce cheaply, but to those who innovate smartly.