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Fortune
Fortune
Gleb Tsipursky

The myth that remote work stifles innovation and creativity is gaining ground–but the same evidence shows that it was only true in the pre-2010s workplace

(Credit: Chris Ratcliffe—Bloomberg/Getty Images)

The narrative that traditional, in-person work environments are the sole breeding grounds for innovation and collaborative breakthroughs has dominated the news media discourse. This narrative is not only outdated but also fundamentally flawed in the context of our modern, technologically-driven world.

A study published by Nature recently made headlines, with some media outlets presenting it as conclusive proof that remote work harms innovation and creativity. Spearheaded by a team of researchers from the prestigious Oxford University and the University of Pittsburgh, this comprehensive analysis delved into a staggering expanse of data–over 20 million scientific studies and 4 million patent applications. Spanning an impressive half-century timeframe, this study serves as a time capsule, providing insights into collaborative trends and breakthroughs over decades.

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