[AstralStorm]

I think the combination of best in the field being in academia, enough but not too much drive for results and a bit of nonconformity is the key. Also good funding not driving the best out of education system.

For instance, in Poland (and Russia too), education is grossly underfunded so the volume and drive are low, while South Korea has a bit too much conformity in their system, producing great engineers but not as great basic research.