The Geography of AI: Why Adoption Matters More Than Generation (and some career advice)

What does AI really mean for regional development – and are we asking the right questions? Together with Professor Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Princesa de Asturias Chair at the London School of Economics (and professor 2 at UiS), we explore why the geography of AI adoption may matter far more than the race to generate it. From ASML in Veldhoven to BioNTech in Mainz, Andrés draws on a sweeping view of European innovation to argue that the places falling behind could actually gain the most – if we shift our focus from chasing Silicon Valley to leveraging comparative advantage. We also hear his reflections on a career built on curiosity, two PhDs, and a lifelong passion for understanding why some places thrive and others don’t. Find Andrés Rodríguez-Pose on Google Scholar, LinkedIn, the website of the Department of Geography and Environment at the LSE and the website of the University of Stavanger. Please follow the Centre for Innovation Research and the RegInno Podcast for other episodes. #RegInno_Podcast Episode transcription