The U.S. is great at inventing things that exploit other people's work. Or at importing people from all over the world who do the actual work.

Yup. They're also good at that. But the bottom line remains. Anything of real importance still gets invented there.

Btw, I am European, living in EU.

Wait what?

the web, skype, modern cybernetics, thermographic cameras, automatic gear box for cars, printing press, space suit, ashphalt, modern economics, banks, telephone, power transformer,submarines,heart rate monitors, aerosol cans, loud speaker, telescope, aquaducts, internal combustion engine, eye glasses. contact lenses, parachutes, bullet proof vests.....

Most of these things were invented decades ago. At more recent times EU is good at inventing paperwork and red tape. And suits and scandals.

Calculus, differential equations, Newtonian physics, relativity, quantum mechanics, classical and intuitionistic logic, impressionism, cubism, surrealism, (modern art), continental philosophy, dialectics, capitalism.