Inventing Prosperity - The relevance of science, technology, and innovation
Professor Ashish Arora, Duke University, USA, visited the Gothenburg U-GOT KIES centre to discuss the American Innovation Ecosystem. His visit gave the opportunity to debate his research results, and interpretations, about how and why the relationships between science, technology, and innovation may be changing, and also impacting prosperity.
The highlight of Professor Arora’s visit was his seminar on “Inventing Prosperity: Science, Technology, and the Future of American Innovation”, moderated by Professor Maureen McKelvey. The seminar was based on a forthcoming book, in which he investigates the strengths, weaknesses, and unexpected effects of the evolving American Innovation Ecosystems, on productivity, use of science, and economic development. The growing division of innovative labour between universities, startups and corporations has had a mixed impact, especially in deep-tech areas. While large companies are investing less in basic research, deep-tech startups are struggling in the current USA Innovation Ecosystem. Debates also centred around possible solutions, through public policy.
Colleagues from multiple departments at the University of Gothenburg, Chalmers, and companies such as AstraZeneca attended the seminar and social events.
"Ashish Arora gave a wonderfully engaging, well-informed, and highly entertaining seminar on one of the central puzzles in innovation today: why scientific progress does not always translate into productivity and prosperity. His new research offers a compelling explanation of how the declining role of industrial research labs has weakened an important link between scientific research and innovation, while also pointing to constructive ways of improving the system. The seminar led to a highly interactive and thoughtful discussion among all participants.”
Marcus Holgersson, Professor, Chalmers University of Technology
"I prospered immensely from Ashish Arora's excellent presentation about "inventing prosperity". He took us on an exciting tour de force in the US innovation ecosystem, followed by diagnostics of current problems, convincing therapeutical suggestions and some of the evidence against dystopian views on the future of R&D, innovation and growth."
Ove Granstrand, Professor Emeritus, Chalmers University of Technology
Extended visit, including teaching in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Professor Arora’s visit extended over several days, making it possible to have more in-depth discussions and impacts, across teaching, research, and society. Many thanks to the Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum for making this visit possible, by inviting Professor Arora to Sweden, to give the Swedish Schumpeter Lecture 2026.
Professor Arora gave a very much appreciated, interactive seminar jointly for our Masters students in the programmes Innovation and Industrial Management (IIM) and in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship (KBE).
“All our students benefit from our international networks, where we facilitate access to frontier debates, by leading researchers and company leaders in our field. Such scientific and teaching interactions help promote the goals of Gothenburg U-GOT KIES, namely more discussion about the relevance of science, technology, and innovation for prosperity in the Gothenburg region as well.”
Maureen McKelvey, Moderator, and Director of Gothenburg U-GOT KIES centre.
About Professor Ashish Arora
Professor Ashish Arora is the Senior Associate Dean for Strategy and the Rex D. Adams Professor of Business Administration at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and associated with NBER. His research focuses on the economics of technology and technical change. He is a highly distinguished professor, especially regarding his research on markets for technology, economics of technology and the American Innovation Ecosystem.
Organizers
The Gothenburg U-GOT KIES centre.