How Loonshots Change the World: From Labs to Societies

What History Teaches Us About Innovation at Scale

It’s tempting to think of innovation as the work of lone geniuses, but the biggest breakthroughs—like the internet, GPS, and biotech—came from entire ecosystems designed to nurture loonshots. Safi Bahcall’s 'Loonshots' shows how government policies, public-private partnerships, and societal phase transitions shape the future. After WWII, the U.S. adopted the 'Endless Frontier' approach, investing in basic research and collaboration between academia, industry, and government. The result? Decades of technological progress and new industries.

Innovation at scale isn’t just about funding. It’s about creating the conditions where wild ideas can survive rejection, cross-pollinate, and eventually take flight. The Human Genome Project, for example, succeeded because of collaboration across sectors. Societies, like organizations, can freeze into stagnation or remain vibrant by nurturing both incremental and radical change.

For policymakers and citizens alike, the lesson is clear: invest in the unknown, build bridges, and keep the soil of innovation fertile. The next great loonshot might be waiting in a lab, a garage, or a classroom—and it’s up to all of us to help it grow. 2 4