Abstract
The clustering of economic activity has been studied in various contexts and for various reasons, but it has recently become a tool used intensively in innovation analysis and policy. In addition to this focus, researchers have discussed the beneficial impact of clusters on regional development, on the evolution of specific industries, and on the evolution of technologies. What all the contributions have in common is that clusters are seen as entities of interdependent organisations which favour economic growth and efficiency. The analyses differ with respect to the constitutive elements and the configuration of clusters, the rationale for assuming that clusters are a relevant phenomenon, procedures for identification, definitions and assessment of their potential (see OECD 2001).
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This view has been contested by several authors claiming the ‘death of distance’ (see, for example, Passiante and Secundo 2002; Kaufmann et al. 2002). However, their conclusions are mainly based on theoretical considerations and lack empirical verification.
Silicon Valley is one of the examples often cited in this context. See, for example, Ehrnberg and Jacobsson 1997; Saxenian 1994.
Cluster reports may be downloaded as PDF files. The following studies are available: Germany — Automotive component suppliers cluster (Preissl 2000); Italy — Telecommunication technology and services cluster (Solimene 2000); Netherlands — Information & communication cluster and multimedia/information & communication cluster (den Her-tog 2000); Norway — Food production cluster (Braadland and Hauknes 2000); Portugal: Biotechnology cluster (Fontes 2000); Book printing and publishing cluster (Readman 2000).
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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Preissl, B., Solimene, L. (2003). Clusters. In: The Dynamics of Clusters and Innovation. Contributions to Economics. Physica, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-50011-4_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-50011-4_3
Publisher Name: Physica, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-7908-0077-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-50011-4
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