Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra
Reader in Political Economy & Entrepreneurship
- Vice Dean, Global Engagement
Research interests
- Policy
- Strategy, International Management and Entrepreneurship
Biography
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, 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.
Dr Klingler-Vidra 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:
- Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Competitiveness
- Venture capital markets
- Political Economy of East Asia
- Diffusion and Contextual Rationality
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). 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.
Dr Klingler-Vidra is currently accepting new PhD students.
Research
King's Climate Research Hub
Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture.
The making of Northeast Asia's start-up nations
Offering novel insights into how education informs a 'group think' that impacts the design of innovation policies.
Project status: Ongoing
King’s Korea Initiative
The King’s Korea Initiative aims to become one of the leading European and global hubs for dialogue, research and commentary about contemporary Korea
News
Japan and South Korea can show governments how to compete with China and US
A key aim of South Korean government policy for startups is to “inject innovative DNA” into the country’s large firms
New International Alumni Council and regional clubs to strengthen global alumni connections and career support
King’s Business School is launching an International Alumni Council to help deepen connectivity with its alumni community around the world. The Council will...
COMMENT: Bringing big business into the startup ecosystem is not without risks, but it can also be a win-win
Southeast Asia's tech scene may find more success by following Japan and Korea's lead of encouraging collaboration between incumbents and startups rather...
Underinvestment in UK start-ups sparks high-level roundtable talks
Lord Livermore, Financial Secretary to the Treasury joins 20 other innovation ecosystem leaders to discuss lack of investment in UK start-ups, which is at a...
Is the golden age of Private Equity just starting?
Industry leaders discuss the future of Private Equity
Why should businesses report data on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals?
Launch of new report during UN General Assembly meeting
'Outstanding' thesis award for former PhD student
A King’s alumna has received a prestigious award for her PhD dissertation.
King's Climate Energy Governance & Finance Group's first workshop
Dr Timothy Foreman provides a summary of the first Climate Energy Governance & Finance workshop, organised jointly by the Qatar Centre for Global Banking &...
Study examines the entrepreneurs behind China's billion-dollar businesses
A generation of billionaire entrepreneurs from China are making waves around the world with innovative products and services – but do their backgrounds make...
Why 'revolving door' in top financial sector jobs may not be quite so problematic
The “revolving door” of people who move regularly between public and private-sector roles in the financial world before landing jobs with top European...
Events
How to use ESG to build your business
Join SME leaders, industry speakers and King’s leading academics to share the latest developments in ESG.
Please note: this event has passed.
Executive MBA Taster Session - 21 February 2023
Find out more about the King's Executive MBA on the next online event on 21 February 2023.
Please note: this event has passed.
Big Tech, Data & the Platform Economy
Part of China Week, this panel of experts will provide insights into a range of dynamics in the tech sector and the rise of the 'platform economy' in China.
Please note: this event has passed.
Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums
Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums
Please note: this event has passed.
Build Back Better Together WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode
WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode
Please note: this event has passed.
Covid and Development: a roundtable discussion with members of the Department of International Development
'What has Covid revealed? And what will it result in?', with a focus on various Global South contexts.
Please note: this event has passed.
WORLD: we got this | East Asia in focus
Join us for this discussion on how COVID-19 has impact East Asia and what lessons have been learned to prevent future pandemics.
Please note: this event has passed.
Patient capital in emerging economies: Panel discussion
Panel discussion on patient capital in emerging economies led by Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra and Nahee Kang.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Exploring Sustainable Finance at King's Business School
From tackling 'greenwashing' to addressing the gender investment gap, researchers from King's Business School are exploring many aspects of environmentally...
Why Inclusive Innovation can change the world
We face huge challenges in our lifetime, from climate change and social justice, to inequality and the housing crisis. New innovations can provide solutions...
Lessons from Vietnam: inclusive innovation and access to intellectual property
Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra and Dr Berlin Tran discuss inclusive innovation as part of the Build Back Better Together essay series
Giving a voice to Vietnam's pandemic innovators who have lessons to teach the world
How grassroots innovators in Vietnam helped their communities during the pandemic and their approach could help other nations.
Good news stories from Vietnam's second wave – involving dragon fruit burgers and mask ATMs
Vietnam was a clear success story of the COVID-19 pandemic by May, recording very low infection rates and being widely praised for locking down early to...
State capacity and COVID-19 testing
In responding to the global pandemic of COVID-19, countries around the world are taking different approaches.Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Ba Linh Tran and Ida...
Informing the public debate on COVID-19
Academics from across the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are helping us all better understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19...
Understanding the impacts on society of COVID-19
How the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy is helping us understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
How innovation in Vietnam is proving the potential of inclusivity
Industries looking to innovate should look to the example of Vietnam, where an inclusive approach to innovation is helping many of its amputee population to...
Research
King's Climate Research Hub
Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture.
The making of Northeast Asia's start-up nations
Offering novel insights into how education informs a 'group think' that impacts the design of innovation policies.
Project status: Ongoing
King’s Korea Initiative
The King’s Korea Initiative aims to become one of the leading European and global hubs for dialogue, research and commentary about contemporary Korea
News
Japan and South Korea can show governments how to compete with China and US
A key aim of South Korean government policy for startups is to “inject innovative DNA” into the country’s large firms
New International Alumni Council and regional clubs to strengthen global alumni connections and career support
King’s Business School is launching an International Alumni Council to help deepen connectivity with its alumni community around the world. The Council will...
COMMENT: Bringing big business into the startup ecosystem is not without risks, but it can also be a win-win
Southeast Asia's tech scene may find more success by following Japan and Korea's lead of encouraging collaboration between incumbents and startups rather...
Underinvestment in UK start-ups sparks high-level roundtable talks
Lord Livermore, Financial Secretary to the Treasury joins 20 other innovation ecosystem leaders to discuss lack of investment in UK start-ups, which is at a...
Is the golden age of Private Equity just starting?
Industry leaders discuss the future of Private Equity
Why should businesses report data on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals?
Launch of new report during UN General Assembly meeting
'Outstanding' thesis award for former PhD student
A King’s alumna has received a prestigious award for her PhD dissertation.
King's Climate Energy Governance & Finance Group's first workshop
Dr Timothy Foreman provides a summary of the first Climate Energy Governance & Finance workshop, organised jointly by the Qatar Centre for Global Banking &...
Study examines the entrepreneurs behind China's billion-dollar businesses
A generation of billionaire entrepreneurs from China are making waves around the world with innovative products and services – but do their backgrounds make...
Why 'revolving door' in top financial sector jobs may not be quite so problematic
The “revolving door” of people who move regularly between public and private-sector roles in the financial world before landing jobs with top European...
Events
How to use ESG to build your business
Join SME leaders, industry speakers and King’s leading academics to share the latest developments in ESG.
Please note: this event has passed.
Executive MBA Taster Session - 21 February 2023
Find out more about the King's Executive MBA on the next online event on 21 February 2023.
Please note: this event has passed.
Big Tech, Data & the Platform Economy
Part of China Week, this panel of experts will provide insights into a range of dynamics in the tech sector and the rise of the 'platform economy' in China.
Please note: this event has passed.
Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums
Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums
Please note: this event has passed.
Build Back Better Together WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode
WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode
Please note: this event has passed.
Covid and Development: a roundtable discussion with members of the Department of International Development
'What has Covid revealed? And what will it result in?', with a focus on various Global South contexts.
Please note: this event has passed.
WORLD: we got this | East Asia in focus
Join us for this discussion on how COVID-19 has impact East Asia and what lessons have been learned to prevent future pandemics.
Please note: this event has passed.
Patient capital in emerging economies: Panel discussion
Panel discussion on patient capital in emerging economies led by Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra and Nahee Kang.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Exploring Sustainable Finance at King's Business School
From tackling 'greenwashing' to addressing the gender investment gap, researchers from King's Business School are exploring many aspects of environmentally...
Why Inclusive Innovation can change the world
We face huge challenges in our lifetime, from climate change and social justice, to inequality and the housing crisis. New innovations can provide solutions...
Lessons from Vietnam: inclusive innovation and access to intellectual property
Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra and Dr Berlin Tran discuss inclusive innovation as part of the Build Back Better Together essay series
Giving a voice to Vietnam's pandemic innovators who have lessons to teach the world
How grassroots innovators in Vietnam helped their communities during the pandemic and their approach could help other nations.
Good news stories from Vietnam's second wave – involving dragon fruit burgers and mask ATMs
Vietnam was a clear success story of the COVID-19 pandemic by May, recording very low infection rates and being widely praised for locking down early to...
State capacity and COVID-19 testing
In responding to the global pandemic of COVID-19, countries around the world are taking different approaches.Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Ba Linh Tran and Ida...
Informing the public debate on COVID-19
Academics from across the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy are helping us all better understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19...
Understanding the impacts on society of COVID-19
How the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy is helping us understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
How innovation in Vietnam is proving the potential of inclusivity
Industries looking to innovate should look to the example of Vietnam, where an inclusive approach to innovation is helping many of its amputee population to...