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

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 [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hLRMgKsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra], LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/andr%C3%A9s-rodr%C3%ADguez-pose-814a45a/?skipRedirect=true], the website of the Department of Geography and Environment at the LSE [https://www.lse.ac.uk/people/andres-rodriguez-pose] and the website of the University of Stavanger [https://www.uis.no/en/profile/andres-rodriguez-pose].   Please follow the Centre for Innovation Research [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-innovation-research/] and the RegInno Podcast [https://nettop.guru/wordpress/category/reginno/] for other episodes.   #RegInno_Podcast   Episode transcription [https://podcast.uis.no/media/SIF/2026_0527_1003.pdf]

Web AI and Innovation Research: How Text Analysis is Transforming Economic Geography

In this episode, Milad Abbasiharofteh discusses the evolution of innovation research, from patents and trademarks to web-based text analysis and generative AI. He shares how researchers can uncover hidden innovation activities, track technology diffusion, and leverage AI responsibly while emphasizing validation, sustainability, and emerging opportunities in economic geography. Find Milad on the Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FKTGv_AAAAAJ&hl=en]   Please follow Centre for Innovation Research [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-innovation-research/] for other episodes. #RegInno_Podcast Episode transcription [https://podcast.uis.no/media/SIF/2026_0512_1418.pdf]

From Tax Incentives to Innovation Spillovers: Rethinking R&D Policy

In this episode, innovation economist Matěj Bajgar discusses how R&D tax incentives shape innovation, why smaller firms often benefit the most, and how policy design can better support regional development. The conversation explores innovation economics, startup financing, regional disparities, and emerging research on innovation spillovers through firm networks.   Find Andy on the Matěj Bajgar [https://matejbajgar.com/], Google Scholar  [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8k_3ZjYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao] Please follow Centre for Innovation Research [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-innovation-research/] for other episodes.   Episode transcription [https://podcast.uis.no/media/SIF/2026_0414_1540_MASTER.pdf]

Making do, making well – Resource‑constrained innovation from the ‘other side’

In this episode, Professor Soumodip Sarkar discusses how innovation emerges under resource constraints, particularly in “non-WEIRD” contexts (non-Western, less resource-rich environments). The conversation explores frugal innovation, grassroots innovation, bricolage, COVID-era problem solving, low-cost technological breakthroughs, and the future of industrial policy in the age of AI.     Find Soumodip Sarkar LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/soumodip-sarkar-4a49551/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3B7TqS6N3jS7Gk8EKo70JaNQ%3D%3D] , Google Scholar [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_lp0Lf0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao]. Please follow the Centre for Innovation Research [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-innovation-research/] and the RegInno Podcast [https://nettop.guru/wordpress/category/reginno/] for other episodes.   #RegInno_Podcast   Episode transcription [https://podcast.uis.no/media/SIF/2026_0507_1416_MASTER.pdf]

Charged Up: Europe, China & the Battery Race That’s Reshaping Geography

Dr. Julian Schwabe (Marburg) joins The RegInno Podcast to discuss how the electric vehicle revolution is rewriting global production networks — from Shenzhen’s battery clusters to Wolfsburg’s anxious boardrooms — and what it means for Europe’s regions, jobs, and industrial future.   Find Julian Schwabe on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julian-schwabe?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Aorganization_admin_admin_page_posts_published%3B0bd60556-64d6-43d5-93ce-eec5ef818e9f], Google Scholar  [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=LOyaGnsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao]and the website of the University of Marburg [https://www.uni-marburg.de/de/fb19/fachbereich/staff/dr-julian-schwabe], where he is also the Head of the Department. Please follow the Centre for Innovation Research [https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-innovation-research/] and the RegInno Podcast [https://nettop.guru/wordpress/category/reginno/] for other episodes.   Episode transcription [https://podcast.uis.no/media/SIF/2026_0319_0902_MASTER.pdf]