Thinkers & Ideas The New Geography of Innovation with Mehran Gul
Feb 17, 2026
Mehran Gul, a technology thinker and author who led digital transformation work at the World Economic Forum, walks through how countries build breakthrough-tech ecosystems. He discusses what makes ecosystems succeed. He contrasts US invention with China’s scaling strengths. He digs into why Europe lags, how statecraft can shape innovation, and where new hotspots may emerge.
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How Ecosystems Actually Work
- Successful innovation ecosystems convert talent into teams, teams into companies, and companies into global customers at speed.
- Key attributes are a deal engine with risk capital, experienced operators, dense relationship networks, and local demand.
Global Talent Gives The U.S. An Edge
- The U.S. draws talent globally while China largely relies on its domestic population, giving the U.S. a structural advantage.
- Political frictions and travel limits are reducing talent circulation into China, reinforcing this gap.
Invention Versus Deployment
- The U.S. excels at invention and early-stage breakthroughs; China excels at scaling and deployment at industrial scale.
- The AI era reintroduces capital- and infrastructure-intensity, favoring places with deployed manufacturing and supply chains.
