Western countries again top Reuters’ yearly list of the World’s Most Innovative Universities. The media group ranks educational centers based on scientific gains, invention of new technologies and success in new markets and industries. Reuters says Asian countries will definitely be a powerful force in the future world economy. But, it says Western countries still produce the most influential research leading to the most useful technologies. Stanford University is number one on Reuters’ list for the third straight year. The private school is found in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, and not by chance. The university played a big part in creating the area. Stanford is known for leading technology development, especially related to the internet. It was a Stanford professor who designed the internet’s basic communication system. In addition, former Stanford students have founded some of the biggest tech companies in the world, including Google, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Netflix.