The Curse of Silicon Valley: How to Regain Innovation Sovereignty

This article provides a profound analysis of contemporary approaches to innovation, drawing on the concepts of Dan Breznitz. The author exposes the "technofetishism" and "geography of illusions" that lead peripheral regions to unthinkingly copy the Silicon Valley model. The key message is the distinction between invention and innovation as a process of implementation and improvement. The text details four stages of innovation—from novelty, through production engineering and second-generation products, to mass assembly. He argues that true prosperity and economic resilience stem not from patents but from the ability to capture value in the supply chain and a robust institutional architecture. This is a call to reclaim sovereignty by focusing on real production processes rather than on a symbolic "liturgy of innovation."