The New Argonauts

The New Argonauts examines how skilled immigrants in Silicon Valley have created professional and business connections between the United States and their home regions. Saxenian tracks the movement of engineers and entrepreneurs from places like Taiwan, Israel, China and India who studied and worked in America before returning home or maintaining operations in both locations. The book presents case studies of technology clusters that emerged in these regions through the efforts of these modern-day Argonauts. Through extensive research and interviews, Saxenian documents how these professionals leveraged their Silicon Valley experience and networks to build new innovation hubs abroad. The narrative follows the evolution of these cross-regional relationships from the 1970s through the early 2000s, highlighting key policies, companies, and individuals who shaped each region's development. The transformation of places like Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Park and Israel's Silicon Wadi receives particular focus. This work challenges traditional views of brain drain and demonstrates how the circulation of talent and knowledge between regions can benefit both sending and receiving countries. The book offers insights into how immigrant technical communities facilitate the global diffusion of innovation and entrepreneurship practices.

Readers note that the book provides insights into how immigrant entrepreneurs and engineers drive innovation through global networks, particularly between Silicon Valley and their home countries like Taiwan, Israel, and China. Liked: - Clear examples and case studies supporting main arguments - Data and research backing key points - Accessible writing style for non-academic readers - Focus on specific regions and their development patterns - Fresh perspective on globalization's positive aspects Disliked: - Some find the examples dated (pre-2006) - Limited coverage of other emerging tech regions - Repetitive points across chapters - Could be more concise - Lacks discussion of potential downsides Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (21 reviews) One reader noted: "The concept of 'brain circulation' versus 'brain drain' changed how I view skilled immigration." Another criticized: "Too Silicon Valley-centric, missing opportunities to explore other tech hub dynamics."

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🌟 In contrast to 1990s fears of a "brain drain," Saxenian discovered that immigrant engineers were actually creating a "brain circulation," establishing vital two-way connections between Silicon Valley and their home countries. 🔍 The book's title references the ancient Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts, comparing modern immigrant entrepreneurs to these legendary adventurers who brought valuable resources back to their homeland. 💡 AnnaLee Saxenian's research revealed that by 2000, over one-quarter of Silicon Valley's technology companies were led by Chinese or Indian executives. 🌏 The book documents how Taiwanese engineers who returned home from Silicon Valley helped transform Hsinchu Science Park into a global technology hub, creating what became known as the "Silicon Valley of Asia." 📚 Saxenian spent over five years conducting more than 100 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs and engineers across multiple continents to gather data for this groundbreaking study.