The term "skunk works" comes from a tiny Lockheed Martin facility run by chief engineer Kelly Johnson in the 1940s, which started in a tent next
to a malodorous manufacturing plant. That tiny space designed and built
America's first jet fighter in just 143 days, and created a philosophy
for rapid innovation which companies copy to this day.
Now, as more companies have to do more with less, many are moving
away from giant research centers and towards building something like a
lean startup inside their companies. Others have the luxury of a different model, where secretive labs work on projects that may never see the light of day.
Skunk works can refer to following a set of 14 rules and restrictions
set out by Johnson, but we're using a broader definition. These are the
places where some of the world's most talented thinkers and engineers
are given time and freedom to create something fascinating.
Everyone from giant defense contractors to retailers like Walmart and Nordstrom are putting their brightest minds in dedicated labs to attempt to jump ahead of the competition. Here's where they do it.
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