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New Enlightenment

Innovation Wars: The Global Race for Startup Supremacy

Mar 31, 2025
01:04:38

Adam Dixon and Robyn Klingler-Vidra break down the intricate ties between government policy, venture capital, and innovation. They explore how nations foster—or stifle—startup ecosystems, why venture capital isn’t a guaranteed path to success, and the global forces shaping entrepreneurship. From Europe's scale-up struggles to China's hyper-competitive market, they reveal the cultural, economic, and geopolitical factors driving (or hindering) innovation.

Key Takeaways

  • Governments are increasingly acting as venture capitalists to spur innovation.
  • Venture capital plays a crucial role in fostering start up-led innovation.
  • A high number of start ups does not necessarily equate to greater business dynamism.
  • The best innovation ecosystems complement existing industries rather than replicate others.
  • Europe continues to struggle with the 'scale-up problem' for its start ups.
  • Bureaucracy remains a major obstacle for business growth in Europe.
  • China's innovation pace outstrips Europe's, driven by intense competition.
  • Geopolitical tensions are reshaping venture capital and start up ecosystems worldwide.


Adam Smith's Panmure House:

⁠Website⁠

Adam Dixon:

⁠On X⁠

⁠On LinkedIn

Robyn Klingler-Vidra:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-robyn-klingler-vidra/

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/robyn-klingler-vidra

Robyn’s latest book Start-up Capitalism: https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501780318/startup-capitalism/#bookTabs=1

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