<p>This paper examines the role of historical contingencies and path dependence in shaping regional industrial trajectories, drawing on evolutionary economics and institutional theory. Through case studies such as SAP’s emergence in Germany, the decline of the coal industry in Germany, and contemporary examples like Türkiye’s indigenous defense industry and South Korea’s Smart Green City Project, the study highlights how critical junctures and self-reinforcing mechanisms lock regions into specific developmental paths. The analysis reveals that early technological, institutional, and entrepreneurial decisions—such as IBM’s influence on SAP or Vecihi Hürkuş’s thwarted aviation innovations in Türkiye—create path dependencies that constrain future industrial evolution. Conversely, the paper explores how institutions and policies can either reinforce these lock-ins (e.g., Germany’s coal subsidies) or enable path-breaking diversification (e.g., Barcelona’s 22@ innovation district). Theoretical insights from evolutionary and institutional economics underscore the interplay between contingency and structure, emphasizing the non-deterministic nature of regional trajectories. Future research directions include the impact of artificial intelligence on regional lock-ins and the cultural dimensions of industrial evolution. By bridging evolutionary economics and economic geography, this work contributes to both theoretical debates and practical strategies for sustainable regional development.</p>