Interview

1. Who are you and what do you do at the SOT?

My name is Timo Seidl and I am Professor of Political Economy at the Department of Governance at the SOT and at the Munich School of Politics and Public Policy.

 

2. What are your fields of research and what fascinates you about them?

My research focuses primarily on the political economy of technological change. That means I explore how technological transformations are both shaped by—and themselves shape—dynamics at the intersection of politics and economics. I ask questions like: Why do different countries respond so differently to emerging technologies, and what political, economic, and social consequences follow from that? Who—or what—determines which technologies are developed and how they’re deployed? How do narratives and ideas influence how new technologies are perceived, regulated, or promoted? And what role do geopolitical shifts play in all of this? 

 

3. What are the currently important topics in your research? How have these changed in recent years and do you have any idea how they will change in the next two years?

Societies today are facing the challenges of technological change more intensely than ever before. In my research, I try to unpack these developments—whether it’s the return of industrial policy in an era of strategic technologies, the rivalry between competing digitalisation models from the US, China, and Europe, or the peculiar world of cryptocurrencies and 'Web3'. In the coming years, I also hope to look more closely at the convergence of what may be the two most consequential technological waves of our time: artificial intelligence on the one hand, and biotechnology on the other. 

 

4. How did you decide to become a professor and why at TUM?

That's a good question! For reasons I can’t quite reconstruct today, I began working intensively on digitalization already during my Master's, and later did my PhD on the political economy of digitalisation. It wasn’t easy at first—there weren’t any well-established research traditions or academic communities in that area. In hindsight—and this might be something early-career researchers can take to heart—that turned out to be a real advantage. I was able to publish early on topics related to digitalization and technology policy, and I was therefore able to make a name for myself quite early on. With my profile at the intersection of technology and politics, I was probably also a good fit for TUM. The rest, as they say, is history. 

 

5. What can a degree programme achieve today and why should people study with you?

I find this question anything but trivial—and not easy to answer without slipping into clichés. On the one hand, we have ever-improving online learning resources and increasingly personalised AI tutors that, in some respects, rival traditional university education. On the other hand, universities are facing growing hostility and a resurgence of obscurantism. Against this background of competition and conflict, simply carrying on as usual would, I believe, be a mistake. We need to rethink a number of things—including what university teaching should be. My own understanding of teaching draws heavily on a (somewhat corny) quote from Plutarch: that the mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. I believe that one of the growing competitive advantages of university study lies precisely in its unique capacity to spark students’ enthusiasm for learning and research—whether through the experience of intellectual exchange and the modeling of intellectual virtues, the camaraderie (and competition) among peers, or the orienting, framing, and guiding role of educators who have spent years honing their craft. That’s also what I try to do in my own teaching—as best I can. Of course, imparting knowledge is part of this—every fire needs fuel—but it can no longer be the sole, or perhaps even the primary, purpose of university teaching.

 

6. Who have you learnt the most from in your life?

There wasn’t just one person—and I’m not really the type for that anyway. Personality development and intellectual growth are team efforts, and I’ve been very lucky with my 'teammates' in both respects: from family and friends, to my partner, co-authors, and people who write good books, articles, or blogs. 

 

7. Is there something you've always wanted to try and haven't got round to yet? If so, what was the reason you haven't got round to it yet?

One thing I’ve never done—and probably now lack both the training and, ultimately, the motivation for—is taking part in a major alpine expedition, like climbing a 6,000-meter peak in Central Asia or something along those lines. It just never happened. But hey, there are still plenty of metaphorical mountains left to climb in the years ahead :) 

 

8. Which sentence would start your biography?

“You’re not really supposed to admit this, but I’ve always kind of wondered what it would be like if someone wrote a biography about me.” These were the first words Timo Seidl said to me when we shook hands for the first time in a café in the heart of Munich.

9. What could your everyday life look like without work?

That’s the kind of question you’re not supposed to ask academics ;) But seriously, I’d probably spend more time outdoors, do more with friends and family—and I’d most likely be an (even) better Age of Empires II player! 

 

10. Is there an item you wouldn't want to be without in your life? If so, which one and why?

You don’t want to be dependent on objects, but honestly, life without a washing machine would be pretty annoying, wouldn’t it?  
 

11. What is your favourite book and why can you recommend it?

It's not a single book per se, but I’m a big fan of Ted Chiang’s short stories and the way he narratively explores and delves into fundamental questions—often about technology—or, as he puts it, makes them ‘storyable.’