He noted that Neal Verfuerth, the CEO of Orion Energy Systems, has received help from the Department of Agriculture, the Small Business Administration and other government tax credits and assistance to build the company and develop products such as a lighting fixture that produces more light with half the energy.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Accenture's researchers are also dreaming up ways for the elderly to share digital scrapbooks online with their grandchildren, and smart systems that talk you through simple home-improvement tasks, such as installing a new light fixture.

ECONOMIST: MONITOR