I was just pondering on technological/medical/scientific developments that happenned over the long period during which the Iron Curtain hung across Europe and wondered how these took place on either side.

Obviously there was intense rivalry over military and space technologies and no doubt a fair amount of spying by each side wanting to maintain pace with the other. But what about the more mundance developments? For example, and I'm sure there are better examples, the helicopter, the electric tin opener, the pneumatic drill, medicines(?), tin foil etc.

Did scientists just happen to develop these things as progress was headed in the same direction? did they go in completely different directions in any instances? Were there people spying on developments in technology of household appliances?

discuss