Rethinking Clusters in the Sense of Innovation, Inclusion, and Green Growth

Abstract

This chapter looks at some perspectives on economic geography, in its evolutionary form, and innovation studies to discuss the relationship among social and economic inclusion, innovation processes, sustainable development, and cluster development. Recent and vibrant literature emphasizes the importance of technological changes in the current historic moment, namely deep transitions and technological revolutions. In this respect, the focus on sustainability is particularly relevant, because the environmental dimension is the substrate on which these technical transitions would be happening in terms of not only technology, but also of the whole society and economy. Moreover, the inclusion of excluded groups and, consequently, less developed regions plays a central role in this debate, too. For this reason, these aspects must be incorporated into approaches to innovation systems through concepts such as eco-innovation and inclusive innovation, which enjoy different knowledge bases (i.e., analytical, synthetic, and symbolic). The findings of the study indicate important contributions for the understanding and formulation of innovation policies in different levels of inclusiveness, in order to capture better, differentiated knowledges and, at the same time, to promote citizens’ autonomy.