## Mehran Gul on the Innovation Blindspot

_IMF Podcasts_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Mehran Gul on the Innovation Blindspot](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/09/16/mehran-gul-on-innovation)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/09/16/mehran-gul-on-innovation/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/09/16/mehran-gul-on-innovation/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/09/16/mehran-gul-on-innovation/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Guest: MEHRAN GUL

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### Core argument
- Innovation is widely perceived to be concentrated in the United States and China, but significant innovative models exist elsewhere.
- The obsessive focus on Silicon Valley has obscured other national and regional innovation models.

### Illustrative examples and observations
- The Swiss train system has run entirely on renewable energy since the early 1960s.
- Many prominent tech leaders now choose to live in Canada.
- Mehran Gul is the author of The New Geography of Innovation, which the Financial Times selected as one of the best books of 2025.

### Implications for understanding innovation geography
- Innovation can arise from diverse institutional arrangements and public systems, not only from venture-capital-driven tech hubs.
- Comparative study of different national examples can reveal alternative pathways to technological and service innovation.

### Production and dissemination
- Podcast produced by Bruce Edwards, International Monetary Fund, an award-winning audio producer and journalist.
- Episode published on September 17, 2026.
- Episode made available on major platforms including Libsyn, Spotify, YouTube, Soundcloud, and Apple.

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## Content in this bundle

- [Mehran Gul Mix 1 (MP3)](/-/media/files/news/podcasts/mp3/english/2026/mehran-gul-mix-1.mp3){rel="external" type="audio/mpeg"}

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## References

- [article](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2026/09/the-innovation-blindspot-mehran-gul)
- [Finance & Development](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/09/16/mehran-gul-on-innovation_