Is America turning into a third world country? That was the provocative topic of a panel I took part in last week at a conference sponsored by The Economist entitled “Innovation: Fresh Thinking For The Ideas Economy.”

Once upon a time, the United States was the world’s dominant innovator — partly because we didn’t have much competition. As a result of the destruction wreaked by WWII, the massive migration of brainpower to the U.S. caused by the war, and huge amounts of government spending, America had the innovation playing field largely to itself. None of these factors exist as we enter the second decade of the 21st century.

America now has plenty of countries it’s competing with — many of which are much more serious about innovation than we are. Just look at the numbers:

A report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation looked at the progress made over the last decade in the area of innovation. Out of the 40 countries and regions it examined, the U.S. ranked dead last.

If you get a chance please take the time to read the whole story. This is of critical importance! We’re a bunch of innovative people here; let’s SHOW IT! Support the Maker movement, the DIY movement, the garage inventors and local Fab Labs, the artisans and grease monkeys. The consumption era is over! Let the second industrial revolution BEGIN!

Hats off to Prof. Vittore Cossalter & Prof. Giuseppe Buja’s fine team of students who knocked out this prototype for a three-wheeled, tilting, electric.

The goal was short distance, low consumption, low emission, in a small package that could be used to travel the inner cities.

The e-Snake is powered by dual electric motors mounted in the hubs of the rear wheels. Looks like it was a success because, from what I can read, they took home the award for acceleration and speed at the Formula Electric and Hybird Italy 2007 student competition.

Though the thing appears to be made of bent aluminum pipe it still weighs in at 357 lbs. With that heft, this electric scoot is capable of reaching 31 mph and covering a distance of 62 miles on a charge (from what I can understand).

For more info you can click on the title link which will take you to the CyberScooter post where I found this OR you can just zip directly to the University of Padova’s student website HERE.

(Here’s a video presentation in English)