Personal profile
Research interests
- Innovation,
- Entrepreneurship and startups
- Political economy
- Venture capital
- East Asia
Dr Klingler-Vidra is currently engaged in several research projects. First, the rise of startup capitalism, and the ways in which state support for startups relates to the competitive positioning of incumbent firms (see Startup Capitalism: New approaches to innovation strategies in East Asia). Second, how the Silicon Valley model is adapted as it diffuses globally, with particular emphasis on the forms innovation policies take in East Asia (see The Venture Capital State: The Silicon Valley Model in East Asia, Cornell University Press, 2018). Third, she is exploring the relationship between the personal characteristics of policy leaders as well as entrepreneurs to understand preferences and performance (see recent papers in Business and Politics, Competition & Change, and World Development) and their innovation policy preferences. She also examines the impact of venture capital and corporate innovation on startups and large firms, the outputs of this research includes an article in Review of Financial Studies.
Biographical details
Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra is Vice Dean, Global Engagement, and Reader in Political Economy & Entrepreneurship at King’s Business School, King's College London. She is the author of The Venture Capital State: The Silicon Valley Model in East Asia (Cornell University Press, 2018), Inclusive Innovation (with Alex Glennie and Courtney Savie Lawrence, Routledge, 2022), and Startup Capitalism: New Approaches to Innovation Strategies in East Asia (with Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Cornell University Press, 2025).
Her research focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture capital and has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including International Affairs, International Studies Quarterly, New Political Economy, Regulation & Governance, Review of Financial Studies, Socio-Economic Review, and World Development. She leads a range of executive education programmes as well as international studies for the Asian Productivity Organisation, Innovate UK, and the UN Development Programme. Robyn obtained her BA in Political Science at the University of Michigan and her MSc and PhD in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Research interests (short)
- Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Competitiveness
- Political Economy of East Asia
- Venture capital
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, All Politics is Local: Sources of Variance in the diffusion of venture capital policies, LSE London School of Economics & Political Science
Award Date: 1 Jan 2014
Keywords
- JQ Political institutions Asia
- Entrepreneurship
- Venture Capital
- Sustainability
- Institutions
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Due diligence
Gonzalez-Uribe, J. & Klingler-Vidra, R., 26 Jan 2026, Entrepreneurial Finance: The Art and Science of Growing Ventures. II ed. Cambridge University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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How Taiwan came to dominate the global chip industry
Klingler-Vidra, R., 1 Apr 2026, The Conversation.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Featured article
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Middle Powers Don’t Have to Work Together to Get Ahead: Countries with a critical niche may be best primed to endure great-power competition
Pacheco Pardo, R. & Klingler-Vidra, R., 3 Feb 2026, FOREIGN POLICY.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Editorial
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Startup Capitalism
Klingler-Vidra, R. & Pacheco Pardo, R., 8 Jan 2026, Elgar Encyclopedia of Business and Government. Edward Elgar Publishing LtdResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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The Goldilocks Effect: How the “Just Right” Writing Styles of Global Corporate Responsibility Frameworks Shapes Their Use by Businesses
Chalmers, A. & Klingler-Vidra, R., 26 Feb 2026, In: Regulation & Governance.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure)
Projects
- 3 Finished
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The Making of Northeast Asia’s Startup Nations: A Comparative Analysis of the Individuals and Organizations Responsible for Innovation Policy in Taiwan, China, Japan and Korea, 1998-2018
Klingler-Vidra, R. (Primary Investigator)
CCKF Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange
1/07/2019 → 30/06/2022
Project: Research
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Sustaining China's Economic Growth: Finance and Firm-Level High-Tech innovation
Brown, K. (Primary Investigator), Klingler-Vidra, R. (Co-Investigator), Knoerich, J. (Co-Investigator), Pacheco Pardo, R. (Co-Investigator) & academic, A. (Co-Investigator)
1/01/2017 → 31/12/2019
Project: Research
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Korea's Transition to Advanced Market Economy and Its Implications for Development: An Inter-Disciplinary Perspective
Pacheco Pardo, R. (Primary Investigator) & Klingler-Vidra, R. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/2015 → 31/08/2020
Project: Research
Activities
- 5 Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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Cornell University Press 1869 podcast: Ep. 167 on Startup Capitalism
Klingler-Vidra, R. (Reviewer) & Pacheco Pardo, R. (Speaker)
22 May 2025Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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Rethinking Innovation Policy in Viet Nam at the dawn of IR4.0
Klingler-Vidra, R. (Reviewer)
16 Mar 2020Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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The rise of Startup Japan
Klingler-Vidra, R. (Contributor)
6 Sept 2018Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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How sovereign wealth funds are inflating the Silicon Valley bubble
Klingler-Vidra, R. (Reviewer) & Braunstein, J. (Contributor)
21 Aug 2018Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation
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Incentives for innovation that’s inclusive
Klingler-Vidra, R. (Reviewer)
23 Mar 2018Activity: Other › Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation