Hardback
The Life Cycle of Clusters
A Policy Perspective
9781784719272 Edward Elgar Publishing
One-size-fits-all cluster policies have been rightly criticized in the literature. One promising approach is to focus cluster policies on the specific needs of firms depending on the stage of development (emergence, growth, sustainment or decline) their cluster is in. In this highly insightful book, these stage-specific cluster policies are analysed and evaluated. Moreover, several chapters also focus on smart specialization policies to promote regional development by taking into account the emergence and adaptation of clusters and industries.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
One-size-fits-all cluster policies have been rightly criticized in the literature. One promising approach is to focus cluster policies on the specific needs of firms depending on the stage of development (emergence, growth, sustainment or decline) their cluster is in. In this highly insightful book, these stage-specific cluster policies are analysed and evaluated. Moreover, several chapters also focus on smart specialization policies to promote regional development by taking into account the emergence and adaptation of clusters and industries. In so doing, the book contributes to a newly emerging literature on how the cluster life cycle concept can inform policies and how these policies differ from static approaches that ignore the dynamism of clusters. The underlying idea is to foster the ability of clusters to renew themselves and to generate new developmental paths, thus preventing stagnation and decline.
This state-of-the-art exploration of smart specialization from a cluster life cycle perspective is an invaluable book for academics in the fields of economic geography, entrepreneurship, innovation, industrial economics, regional studies and cluster research. It will also appeal to regional policy makers and practitioners dealing with public policy.
This state-of-the-art exploration of smart specialization from a cluster life cycle perspective is an invaluable book for academics in the fields of economic geography, entrepreneurship, innovation, industrial economics, regional studies and cluster research. It will also appeal to regional policy makers and practitioners dealing with public policy.
Critical Acclaim
‘This excellent book fills an important gap in the literature on clusters and cluster policy. In my view, it is the most comprehensive overview on evolutionary cluster thinking to date and therefore a must read for scholars in the field. But thanks to its relevant ideas, policy lessons and case studies, I also consider it a good read for forward-looking policy makers involved in cluster development.’
– Gert-Jan Hospers, University of Twente, the Netherlands
‘Clusters pass through life cycles – they emerge, grow, mature and ultimately decline. Unlike the human body, however, they can adapt and transform to escape their terminal fate. This cyclic nature of cluster development has long been ignored by static and one-size-fits-all policy approaches. Linking cluster life cycles to cluster policies and initiatives, this carefully edited book bridges that gap by bringing together established scholars and experienced consultants. It is thus essential reading for scholars, students, policy-makers and practitioners.’
– Matthias Kiese, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
‘Overall, the book offers a balanced discussion of theoretical ideas and empirical findings and provides a thought-provoking counter narrative to conventional cluster policies that view industrial clusters as static entities. . . As such, this book would likely to serve well as a guide for consultants and policy makers as well as academics.''
– Science and Public Policy
– Gert-Jan Hospers, University of Twente, the Netherlands
‘Clusters pass through life cycles – they emerge, grow, mature and ultimately decline. Unlike the human body, however, they can adapt and transform to escape their terminal fate. This cyclic nature of cluster development has long been ignored by static and one-size-fits-all policy approaches. Linking cluster life cycles to cluster policies and initiatives, this carefully edited book bridges that gap by bringing together established scholars and experienced consultants. It is thus essential reading for scholars, students, policy-makers and practitioners.’
– Matthias Kiese, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
‘Overall, the book offers a balanced discussion of theoretical ideas and empirical findings and provides a thought-provoking counter narrative to conventional cluster policies that view industrial clusters as static entities. . . As such, this book would likely to serve well as a guide for consultants and policy makers as well as academics.''
– Science and Public Policy
Contributors
Contributors: Y. Al-Saleh, B.T. Asheim, A. Auer, M. Benner, P. Cooke, D. Fornahl, J.K. Fosse, M. Fromhold-Eisebith, M. Grillitsch, R. Hassink, A. Isaksen, K. Koschatzky, H. Kroll, T. Lämmer-Gamp, B. Lageman, S. Mahroum, R. Martin, G. Meier zu Köcker, J. Nordhause-Janz, R. Normann, R. Ramlogan, D. Rehfeld, M. Rothgang, E. Schnab, T. Stahlecker, F. Tödtling, M. Trippl, E. Uyarra, J. Vicente
Contents
Contents:
Introduction: Towards a more open and dynamic approach on cluster policy
Robert Hassink and Dirk Fornahl
Part I Ideas - How should a policy be designed?
1. The role of clusters and public policy in new regional economic path development
Bjørn T. Asheim, Arne Isaksen, Roman Martin and Michaela Trippl
2. Cluster policy in an evolutionary world? Rationales, instruments and policy learning
Elvira Uyarra and Ronnie Ramlogan
3. Network failures and policy challenges along the life cycle of clusters
Jérôme Vicente
4. Cluster Policy: Renewal through the integration of institutional variety
Markus Grillitsch and Bjørn T. Asheim
5. Intra-regional collaborative learning between cluster initiatives – a factor of cluster (policy) dynamics?
Martina Fromhold-Eisebith
6. Management strategies in cluster projects – Cases and discussion
Jens Kristian Fosse and Roger Normann
7. Core design features of an integrated cluster policy
Gerd Meier zu Köcker and Thomas Lämmer-Gamp
Part II Smart Specialisation – What can we learn for cluster policy?
8. Smart specialization and cluster emergence: Elements of evolutionary regional policies
Maximilian Benner
9. Cluster policy adjustments in the context of smart specialization? Impressions from Germany
Knut Koschatzky, Henning Kroll, Esther Schnabl and Thomas Stahlecker
Part III Case studies – How does cluster life cycle policy take place?
10. Are policies supporting cluster development? A comparative firm-level analysis
Alexander Auer and Franz Tödtling
11. Do cluster initiatives develop in cycles? The example of Germany`s Spitzenclusters
Michael Rothgang and Bernhard Lageman
12. Integration – Fragmentation – Reintegration? Studying cluster evolution, regional path development and cluster policies in the Ruhr Area
Dieter Rehfeld and Juergen Nordhause-Janz
13. "Eventually even attractive illusions come to an end": the death of "Monitor" – and demise of "clusters"?
Philip Cooke
14. The surrogate model of cluster creation: The case of Mubadala in Abu Dhabi
Sami Mahroum and Yasser Al-Saleh
Index
Introduction: Towards a more open and dynamic approach on cluster policy
Robert Hassink and Dirk Fornahl
Part I Ideas - How should a policy be designed?
1. The role of clusters and public policy in new regional economic path development
Bjørn T. Asheim, Arne Isaksen, Roman Martin and Michaela Trippl
2. Cluster policy in an evolutionary world? Rationales, instruments and policy learning
Elvira Uyarra and Ronnie Ramlogan
3. Network failures and policy challenges along the life cycle of clusters
Jérôme Vicente
4. Cluster Policy: Renewal through the integration of institutional variety
Markus Grillitsch and Bjørn T. Asheim
5. Intra-regional collaborative learning between cluster initiatives – a factor of cluster (policy) dynamics?
Martina Fromhold-Eisebith
6. Management strategies in cluster projects – Cases and discussion
Jens Kristian Fosse and Roger Normann
7. Core design features of an integrated cluster policy
Gerd Meier zu Köcker and Thomas Lämmer-Gamp
Part II Smart Specialisation – What can we learn for cluster policy?
8. Smart specialization and cluster emergence: Elements of evolutionary regional policies
Maximilian Benner
9. Cluster policy adjustments in the context of smart specialization? Impressions from Germany
Knut Koschatzky, Henning Kroll, Esther Schnabl and Thomas Stahlecker
Part III Case studies – How does cluster life cycle policy take place?
10. Are policies supporting cluster development? A comparative firm-level analysis
Alexander Auer and Franz Tödtling
11. Do cluster initiatives develop in cycles? The example of Germany`s Spitzenclusters
Michael Rothgang and Bernhard Lageman
12. Integration – Fragmentation – Reintegration? Studying cluster evolution, regional path development and cluster policies in the Ruhr Area
Dieter Rehfeld and Juergen Nordhause-Janz
13. "Eventually even attractive illusions come to an end": the death of "Monitor" – and demise of "clusters"?
Philip Cooke
14. The surrogate model of cluster creation: The case of Mubadala in Abu Dhabi
Sami Mahroum and Yasser Al-Saleh
Index
