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Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra
Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra

Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra

Reader in Entrepreneurship & Sustainability

  • Associate Dean, Global Engagement

Research interests

  • Policy
  • Strategy, International Management and Entrepreneurship

Biography

Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra is Reader in Entrepreneurship and Sustainability at King’s Business School. She is the author of The Venture Capital State: The Silicon Valley Model in East Asia (Cornell University Press, 2018) and Inclusive Innovation (with Alex Glennie and Courtney Savie Lawrence, Routledge, 2022).

Her research focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture capital and has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including International Affairs, New Political Economy and Regulation & Governance.

She has delivered executive education for the LSE, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Tel Aviv University and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and led international studies for 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

  • Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Competitiveness
  • Venture capital markets
  • Political Economy of East Asia
  • Inclusive Innovation
  • Diffusion and Contextual Rationality
  • Patient capital
  • Comparative Capitalism

Robyn’s research focuses on government efforts to build venture capital markets as a means to promote innovation, economic growth, and development.

She is currently engaged in five major research projects:

  1. investigating why and how the Silicon Valley venture capital policy model is adapted as it diffuses, with particular emphasis on the forms venture capital policies take in East Asia. Robyn has been researching this since 2010.
  2. investigating East Asian governments' shift from supporting state-owned enterprises and conglomerates, to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in the post-East Asian Financial Crisis.
  3. exploring how the educational backgrounds of East Asian innovation policymakers are shaping the focus of national entrepreneurship promotion policies. 
  4. developing a framework for assessing the 'external rate of return' of business activity across economic and social parameters.
  5. continuing to explore venture capital and private equity, across the themes above, as a source of patient capital for innovation and development.

Teaching

PhD supervision

Robyn is interested in supervising PhD projects focused on topics closely-aligned with her areas of research.

Further details

See Robyn's research profile

    Research

    venture capital
    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

    climate change hero
    King's Climate Research Hub

    Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.

    News

    Why should businesses report data on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals?

    Launch of new report during UN General Assembly meeting

    Dr Robyn-Klingler-Vidra, wearing a red suit sits in front of a table with four other panellists at an event

    'Outstanding' thesis award for former PhD student

    A King’s alumna has received a prestigious award for her PhD dissertation.

    SPENewsStock

    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 &...

    Climate change

    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...

    China map

    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...

    eu-flag-sunshine

    Technological Innovation in the EU and the Republic of Korea: Similarities, Differences and Areas for Cooperation

    A recent report by Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Dr Ramon Pacheco Pardo and MEP Susanna Solis examining technical innovation in the EU and the Republic of Korea...

    ROK-EU

    A state of innovation: new episode on state-driven innovation during COVID-19

    As governments grapple with the COVID-19 outbreak, we discuss the role innovation can play in helping to tackle pandemics in the latest WORLD: we got this...

    Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra and Professor Kerry Brown

    Interview: Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra

    What exactly is venture capital? And how might it enable innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth?

    Venture Capital

    Dr Klingler-Vidra joins Pitch@Palace

    Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra was invited to attend Pitch@Palace Commonwealth - an event which helps to connect entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with...

    Photo of Robyn Klinger-Vidra at Pitch@Palace

    Events

    24MayESG-build-your-business-event (1)

    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.

    21Febeconomics-management-begins-at-kings-mobile

    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.

    18OctTik Tok and censorship

    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.

    03NovIncInno no title 1_1

    Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums

    Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums

    Please note: this event has passed.

    17JunBBBT Main 780x440

    Build Back Better Together WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

    WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

    Please note: this event has passed.

    24MarCOVID-19 temp check Africa

    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.

    04JunWWGT Logo

    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.

    13NovVietnam fishermen

    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

    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...

    InclusiveInnovationFeatureImage

    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

    Vietnam Bakery

    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.

    dragon fruit 800 430

    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...

    Vietnamese man on scooter

    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...

    did vietnamese seller hero sized

    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...

    Newspapers Image

    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.

    empty stores hero sized

    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...

    Disability Research and Capacity Development (DRD), Vietnam

      Research

      venture capital
      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

      climate change hero
      King's Climate Research Hub

      Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.

      News

      Why should businesses report data on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals?

      Launch of new report during UN General Assembly meeting

      Dr Robyn-Klingler-Vidra, wearing a red suit sits in front of a table with four other panellists at an event

      'Outstanding' thesis award for former PhD student

      A King’s alumna has received a prestigious award for her PhD dissertation.

      SPENewsStock

      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 &...

      Climate change

      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...

      China map

      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...

      eu-flag-sunshine

      Technological Innovation in the EU and the Republic of Korea: Similarities, Differences and Areas for Cooperation

      A recent report by Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Dr Ramon Pacheco Pardo and MEP Susanna Solis examining technical innovation in the EU and the Republic of Korea...

      ROK-EU

      A state of innovation: new episode on state-driven innovation during COVID-19

      As governments grapple with the COVID-19 outbreak, we discuss the role innovation can play in helping to tackle pandemics in the latest WORLD: we got this...

      Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra and Professor Kerry Brown

      Interview: Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra

      What exactly is venture capital? And how might it enable innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth?

      Venture Capital

      Dr Klingler-Vidra joins Pitch@Palace

      Dr Robyn Klingler-Vidra was invited to attend Pitch@Palace Commonwealth - an event which helps to connect entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with...

      Photo of Robyn Klinger-Vidra at Pitch@Palace

      Events

      24MayESG-build-your-business-event (1)

      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.

      21Febeconomics-management-begins-at-kings-mobile

      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.

      18OctTik Tok and censorship

      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.

      03NovIncInno no title 1_1

      Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums

      Inclusive innovation: Disrupting Unjust Equilibriums

      Please note: this event has passed.

      17JunBBBT Main 780x440

      Build Back Better Together WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

      WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

      Please note: this event has passed.

      24MarCOVID-19 temp check Africa

      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.

      04JunWWGT Logo

      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.

      13NovVietnam fishermen

      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

      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...

      InclusiveInnovationFeatureImage

      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

      Vietnam Bakery

      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.

      dragon fruit 800 430

      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...

      Vietnamese man on scooter

      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...

      did vietnamese seller hero sized

      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...

      Newspapers Image

      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.

      empty stores hero sized

      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...

      Disability Research and Capacity Development (DRD), Vietnam