A certain creativity that allows people to be effective. I'm an investor in a number of biotech companies, partly because of my incredible enthusiasm for the great innovations they will bring.

I wouldn't want to put it on my business card. And yet it's the thing that defines the way we live, the things we'd like to have for everyone whether it's health or education.

I believe in innovation and that the way you get innovation is you fund research and you learn the basic facts. ", "Steve and I were very different. House. It wasn't because we didn't have good politicians; we had some really good politicians. That's my life's work. So those basic needs that, through innovation, actually it's very affordable to bring them...to everyone. These four policy prescriptions - strengthening educational opportunities, revamping immigration rules for highly skilled workers, increasing federal funding for basic scientific research, and providing incentives for private-sector R&D - should in my view be top priorities as Congress and the Administration consider how to maintain the nation's leadership in science, technology, and innovation. People who are pessimistic about the future tend to extrapolate from the present in a straight line. Our hit rate in development is better than theirs, but we should strive to make it better. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency. The potential of a big financial return for innovation unleashes a broad set of talented people in pursuit of many different discoveries.

In 1975, Gates co-founded Microsoft, the worlds largest PC software company, with Paul Allen. Microsoft is not about greed. It's about innovation and fairness. Yes, stability and education are important--I'm not taking anything away from that--but innovation is the real driver of progress." Its hit rate is pathetic. Keep a flat organization in which all issues are discussed openly. And it's wonderful that the new tools have empowered that protestor so that state secrets, bad developments are not hidden anymore.

To walk into a situation, have something explained to you and immediately say, 'Well, what about this?' ", "It's an elusive concept. How did the world's wealthiest man get to where he is today? Vaccines have saved millions of lives around the world, but …

They set public policy and are uniquely able to provide the resources to make sure solutions reach everyone who needs them. I don't think that these R&D and innovation budgets will be substantially reduced. They also fund basic research, which is a crucial component of the innovation that improves life for everyone. ", "Our modern lifestyle is not a political creation. ", "We had really bet our future on the Macintosh being successful, and then, hopefully, graphics interfaces in general being successful, but first and foremost, the thing that would popularize that being the Macintosh.

You know, that's what I grew up, in my teens, my 20s, my 30s, you know, I even knew not to get married until later because I was so obsessed with it. ", "If I think something's a waste of time or inappropriate, I don't wait to point it out. Yes, stability and education are important - I'm not taking anything away from that - but innovation is the real driver of progress. I do the dishes every night--other people volunteer, but I like the way I do it.