Abstract
Silicon Valley plays a key role in developing innovative technologies and paving the way for new global trends. The region remains, for now, the undisputed leader of the global startup and innovation scenes. So how did this special innovation ecosystem develop, and which factors were at play in turning Silicon Valley into the epicenter of startups and new technologies? Who are the main actors in the region, and how do they contribute to fueling innovation and entrepreneurship?
This chapter aims to shed light on Silicon Valley’s unique history and its central role in the global technology community. A special focus is given to cultural characteristics fostering collaboration and experimentation, as well as the social networks that underline the emergence and development of startups and new technologies. The SWOT analysis assesses the region’s strengths and weaknesses in a structured way and discusses the opportunities and threats that could fuel or jeopardize Silicon Valley’s leading role in global innovation. The lessons learned highlight some of the phenomena that underlie the regions entrepreneurial strengths and provide ideas for unlocking similar innovative potential in other regions around the world.
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Fuerlinger, G., Garzik, L. (2022). Silicon Valley Innovation System. In: Garzik, L. (eds) Successful Innovation Systems. Future of Business and Finance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80639-2_14
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