Wired News: Worming Into Apple:
"Skunkworks projects are a long-standing tradition in Silicon Valley. Many engineers work on personal projects in the hope they will be turned into products, even if they've been previously canceled. Companies like Google recognize the tradition, allowing staffers to spend 20 percent of their time on private projects."

I was surfing around with no greta purpose and happened to open this article (which is not particularly interesting in itself). But the final comment on Google policy did catch my attention. I wonder if this policy could be transferred into education. It could be the most economic and most productive strategy for professional development in schools and colleges.