A story caught my eye today and it was amazing how quickly I saw the connections to some of the big issues that the Chamber is working on right now. The blog TechCrunch recently posted about the MIT Eurekafest, an annual event held by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to showcase inventions by high school students from around the country.

Some of the inventions addressed big problems, like clean drinking water in rural areas or sensing for the blind. Others addressed problems maybe not so big, but annoying nonetheless--like keeping track of computer cords. But the common thread is that every team combined creativity with strong technical skills to build a prototype that solves a problem.

These inventions highlight the importance of math and science education in the U.S. A creative idea is good, but unless the inventor is able to do the engineering to actually produce a working product, it won't solve any real problems. And once the prototype is done, what is the next step? One lonely filter is not going to clean much water.

The product needs to be produced. This takes even more engineering, but it also takes money--financing from investors to pay for the new factory, to hire staff, to buy raw materials and to pay for shipping and marketing. And the intellectual property of the new device needs to be protected so that the inventor has a chance to make their idea work.

It's not hard to see the Chamber's entire growth and prosperity agenda in the story of one student inventing a new kind of water filter. They will need energy to run the factory. They will need smart workers to build the product. They will look outside the U.S. to find customers. They'll fear becoming the target of a lawsuit. They'll have to manage a pile of regulations and paperwork.

The story of a high school student with a great idea is the story of free enterprise in America. Kids dream of having the opportunity to make a difference, to invent a new solution, and to change the world with it. Here at the Chamber we work on a lot of highly detailed policy, but this essential story is what inspires us. Maybe one of these kids will start the next GE or Google or FedEx. We'd like them to have the best shot they can get.