Silicon Valley's role in the world is now so big that some people argue the power of tech firms is similar to the powers of a nation-state. So maybe it's not too surprising to learn that Denmark has taken an unusual step, and has dispatched career diplomat Casper Klynge to serve as the world’s first tech ambassador. Klynge's role is to create avenues for dialogue, to work with firms to establish appropriate regulations, and to engage with Silicon Valley from a foreign policy perspective. In this conversation, Ambassador Klynge tells the story of how this came about, how he views his priorities, and how western societies are working to nurture innovation while simultaneously protecting the core principles of open democracy.
Silicon Valley's role in the world is now so big that some people argue the power of tech firms is similar to the powers of a nation-state. So maybe it's not too surprising to learn that Denmark has taken an unusual step, and has dispatched career diplomat Casper Klynge to serve as the world’s first tech ambassador. Klynge's role is to create avenues for dialogue, to work with firms to establish appropriate regulations, and to engage with Silicon Valley from a foreign policy perspective. In this conversation, Ambassador Klynge tells the story of how this came about, how he views his priorities, and how western societies are working to nurture innovation while simultaneously protecting the core principles of open democracy.