2020 at Stanford University with Dr Burton Lee Europe vs Silicon Valley Innovation Ecosystem Design

http://www.europeanentrepreneursatstanford.com/#map

Course Overview

Comparative Innovation Ecosystems :Europe v Silicon Valley

Continental Europe today serves as the core model for regional innovation economies and ecosystems around the world. Key structural elements of this model include family-owned enterprises, public universities, a strong State role, and a focus on traditional industries, especially manufacturing, commerce and agriculture. Silicon Valley, in contrast, is the leading exception globally to the dominant European model. As Europe faces growing competition from China and the US in computing and artificial intelligence (AI), are its traditional science, industry and growth platforms adequate to secure Europe’s future competitiveness, prosperity, sustainability and societal well-being? What lessons does Europe offer for Silicon Valley and Asia?

Course Methodology

Systems Design & Design Thinking

Ethnography & Cultural Anthropology : Identity, Self-Image, Narrative, Taboo, Groupthink, Herd Behavior, 'Blind Spots' & 'Holes'

This course employs a ‘comparative innovation ecosystems’ approach to deconstruct and analyze in depth the fundamental differences - and similarities - between Continental Europe and Silicon Valley. Particular attention is paid to institutional models; to science, industry, engineering and design traditions and cultures; to group identity, taboo, groupthink, herd behaviors, ‘blind spots’ and dominant narratives; and to system performance criteria.

In exposing students to such ethnographic/cultural anthropology methods of understanding group behaviors and mindsets, the course seeks to move beyond the usual Silicon Valley discussion of ‘startups’, ‘venture capital’, ‘innovation’, ‘founder biographies’ and ‘company culture’ - and past the usual European narratives around ‘digital transformation’ and ‘platforms’ - to understand the deeper underlying institutional structures and social foundations of entrepreneurship and innovation on the Continent and in Northern California. And perhaps also to identify new ways forward for Europe and the United States.

Schedule 2020 - Year Eleven

January 6 Course Overview & Intro; Strategic Landscape; Role of 'The State'; 'The Community' v 'The Individual'; Sustainability; Methodology; Student Design Projects Session #1		Europe's Strategic Challenge: China, USA, Software and Computing
		The Role of 'The State' (L’état); 'The Community' vs 'The Individual'
		Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 'Sustainability' - Foundations of European Economic Strategy, Values and Identity
		Using Ethnography & Cultural Anthropology to Deconstruct Innovation Ecosystems
		Student Team Design Projects
January 13 Startups, Venture Capital, Accelerators, University Entrepreneurship, Private Equity, Corporates, M&A Session #2		What are the Factors Underlying the Strong Growth of Europe's Startup Hubs and Venture Finance System? London, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Dublin, Wien, Helsinki, Tallinn, Warsaw, Prague
		Europe's Corporations: Startup Engagement, Open Innovation, Mergers & Acqusitions (M&A), and Valuations; Management Practices, Hierarchies, Governance and Corporate Culture
January 27 Family-owned Enterprises and Management Culture in Europe; State-owned Enterprises Session #3		How Has the Family-ownership Model Shaped Continental European Thinking About Corporate Culture, Structure, Management and Governance? How Does This Tradition Constrain Culture Change in Companies?
		How Has the Family-owned Sector Influenced the Mission and Structure of the European University and Science Ecosystem?
		How are State-owned Enterprises Similar|Dissimilar to Family-owned Enterprises? in Corporate Culture, Transparency, Use of Information Technology, Governance?
February 3 European Science, Engineering, Design and Industry Traditions, Cultures and Systems Session #4		How Have Europe's Strong Science|Mathematics Traditions and Culture Shaped Its Approach to Commercialization of University Inventions? to Teaching of Software Engineering?
		Why are Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Accorded High Status in European Industry, Society and Universities? How Does this Compare to the United States?
		What are the Challenges and Opportunities for European Companies to Adopt 'Design Thinking' Practices? How Does 'Design' in Europe Differ from 'Design Thinking'?
February 10 Public vs Private: Universities, Business Schools, Coding Academies; Foundation Universities; Higher Education Cultures; University Reforms Session #5		The Role, Mission, Structures and Governance of Public Universities: Patterns in Business and Informatics Faculties
		The Rise of Competing Models: Emergence of Private and Foundation Universities, Business Schools and Coding Academies; University Reform Initiatives
		How Does the Role, Elite Status, Independence, Accountability and Protection of Professors Influence University Innovation Culture and Science Impact?
February 24 Software & Computing Industry: Status, Competencies, Education & Research, Roadmap and Prospects Session #6		How Did Europe Arrive at Its Current Structural Weakness in Computing, Software Industry, Cloud Infrastructure and AI?
		Europe's Strengths in Software: Enterprise, Gaming, Fintech, eCommerce, Cybersecurity, IoT, Wellness, Transportation Services, IT Outsourcing, Embedded, Open Source: SAP, Adyen, Dassault, Spotify, Transferwise, N26, Ubisoft, Skype, ESET, Wargaming, Drupal, EPAM and More
		What Happened to Europe's Computer Companies? Olivetti, Nixdorf and Groupe Bull
		Computing Hardware - Semiconductors & Electronics: Chips, Mobile, ARM, Infineon, Nokia, Arduino and Beyond
		How is 'Informatics' Different from 'Computer Science'? Foundations, Historical Roots and Reforms
March 2 Cleaning House: Corporate Malfeasance||Mis-Management as a Barrier to Innovation Performance; The Roles of Legal and Media Regimes in Exposing/Hiding Scandal; Investigative Journalism & Transparency Session #7		Corporate Misbehavior in Europe: The Case of Volkswagen
		Corporate Malfeasance in Silicon Valley: Theranos, Uber, WeWork
March 9 Innovation for The Commons: Cities, Infrastructure, Transportation & Social Innovation; Lessons for Silicon Valley & Asia; Student Design Projects Session #8		Urban Design, High Speed Rail, Bicycles, Social Entrepreneurship
		What can Silicon Valley Learn from Europe?
		What can Asia Learn from Europe?
		Presentations: Student Team Design Projects