Covid, Brexit and The Anglosphere

As a serial entrepreneur this book grasps the complex challenges I face on a daily basis. The two main concepts discussed give valuable insights into the dynamics of launching innovations that drive growth. The Quadruple Innovation Vortex neatly demonstrates the interlocking roles of the state, universities and financial capital working in partnership with entrepreneurs like myself to overcome obstacles and reach the market. The complexity and interrelation of Cumulative Causation reflects the real world the entrepreneur works in where numerous different aspects need to work together to generate the virtuous cycle of success. Simmons and Culkin’s book is a “must read” for those who want to explore how innovation and growth require so much more than just Open Trade.

This forward-thinking book is innovative and exciting, Simmons and Culkin’s dare to imagine and envisage innovation by addressing the unanswered questions that we have all been asking. The book is an essential read for academics, researchers, policy makers and business leaders alike because it presents groundbreaking ideas on innovation and how we can drive economic growth in practical ways that are hard to ignore.

With the United Kingdom’s Brexit transition in seemingly perpetual motion, Simmons and Culkin provide an easily-digestible menu of socio-economic historical context, assessment of contemporary structural stagnation of breakthrough innovation, and forward-looking positive proposals for recovery from Brexit by sustaining a knowledge economy. The authors have delivered a valuable academic text that is both accessible to the lay reader, and provides important insight for businesses, investors and policy makers. In particular, the focus on establishing disruptive innovation through harnessing partnership with academic researchers provides a practical framework to catalyse economic growth that benefits wider society.

This is a great little book – aimed as a teach-in for undergraduates and others on what ‘free trade’ means (lots of different things it seems and you can take your pick!) and how, if done correctly, it could stimulate entrepreneurship and encourage growth [...] not only very informative but also at times quite entertaining.