Jumia Books The New Geography of Innovation: The Global Contest for Breakthrough Technologies by Mehran Gul

The New Geography of Innovation by Mehran Gul is a compelling and timely exploration of how the global landscape of technological innovation is rapidly evolving. Winner of the prestigious Bracken Bower Prize from the Financial Times and McKinsey & Company, Gul’s book challenges the long-held assumption that Silicon Valley is the sole epicenter of breakthrough technologies.

Drawing on extensive research and firsthand interviews, Gul maps the emergence of new innovation hubs across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, showing how these regions are developing distinct models of tech development that diverge from the American template. From Shenzhen’s hardware ecosystems to Nairobi’s fintech revolution, Gul reveals how local conditions—policy, talent, infrastructure, and culture—shape innovation in unique ways.

Key insights include:

The decline of Silicon Valley’s monopoly on global innovation

How geopolitical tensions and digital sovereignty are reshaping tech ecosystems

The rise of China, India, and Southeast Asia as centers of AI, biotech, and green tech

Why emerging markets are leapfrogging traditional development paths through mobile-first and decentralized solutions

What governments, investors, and entrepreneurs must understand to stay competitive in a multipolar tech world

Gul’s writing is both analytical and accessible, blending macroeconomic trends with vivid case studies and personal narratives. He doesn’t just document change—he explains the forces driving it, from demographic shifts to regulatory experimentation.

This book is essential reading for policymakers, startup founders, investors, and strategists who want to understand where the next wave of innovation will come from—and how to position themselves within it. It’s also a powerful resource for readers in East Africa and other emerging regions seeking inspiration and validation for their own tech ecosystems.

The New Geography of Innovation reframes the global tech conversation, urging readers to look beyond the familiar and recognize the dynamic, decentralized future of innovation.