Should Southeast Asia copy the Silicon Valley model? I gave an opening keynote at the Hanoi Innovation Summit (#HISVN19) in August 2019. Making three points to answer the question: 1) There's a "stateless myth of Silicon Valley". The government played a key role in Silicon Valley, and needs to in #ASEAN, too 2) Silicon Valley can't be copied. It has its own unique history and competitive edge. Besides, maybe we shouldn't aspire to copy its inequality and exclusionary tendencies. #ASEAN #policymakers should strive for a model that thrives on #diversity and #inclusion 3) Governments should be empowered to take an entrepreneurial developmental state approach. Policy that is "contextually rational" performs best, rather than policy that imitates what has been done elsewhere. Promote local #innovation context, beyond "silicon ambitions".

1. Dr. Robyn Klingler-Vidra
Senior Lecturer in Political Economy
King’s College London
Beyond Silicon Ambitions
Hanoi Innovation Summit
29 August 2019

2. 1) The stateless Silicon Valley myth
2) Silicon Valley can’t – and shouldn’t – be copied
3) Context-relevant policy
Agenda

3. 1) Stateless Myth of Silicon Valley

4. Reality: Government key protagonist

6. Global rise of venture capital states

7. 2) Silicon Valley can’t be copied

8. In some ways, it shouldn’t be copied

9. We should go beyond the aim of
putting a ‘man on the moon’

10. Embrace the multiple benefits of
greater inclusion
Cognitive Social

11. 3) Context relevant policy works

12. Policy designed for the local context
Funding Taxation Regulation
Clusters,
Networks and
Institutes
Attracting Talent
and Investment
Technology
Infrastructure
and Gov’t
Procurement
Stock Market
Access
Education and
Training

13. Innovation to improve productivity,
improve livelihoods

14. Singapore’s Block 71:
partnership to solve a local challenge

15. Build on local success

16. And leverage local advantages

17. Key takeaways
• Innovation is a new product or process
that advances productivity, not only high-
technology (i.e. silicon)
• Design innovation policy for the local
context, and,
• Aim to boost innovation that comes
from, and is applied by, wider society.