This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wolfe, D. A. Articles by Gertler, M. S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Clusters from the Inside and Out: Local Dynamics and Global Linkages

Program on Globalisation and Regional Innovation Systems, Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3K7, Canada, david.wolfe{at}utororeto.ca

Meric S. Gertler

Program on Globalisation and Regional Innovation Systems, Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto, 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3K7, Canada, gertler{at}utoronto.ca

This paper surveys some of the current methodologies employed to analyse cluster development, as well as some of the key themes emerging from both the analytical and prescriptive literature noted above. It uses this survey as the context in which to present a synthesis of the initial findings of the current national study of industrial clusters in Canada, conducted by the Innovation Systems Research Network. The national study comprises 26 cases which aim to identify the presence of significant concentrations of firms in the local economy and to understand the process by which these regional-industrial concentrations of economic activity are managing the transition to more knowledge-intensive forms of production. The central questions in each case are: What role do local institutions and actors play in fostering this transition? How important is interaction with non-local actors in this process? How dependent are local firms on unique local knowledge assets and what is the relative importance of local versus non-local knowledge flows between economic actors? How did each local industrial concentration evolve over time to reach its present state and what key events and decisions shaped its path? And, finally, to what extent do these processes, relationships and local capabilities constitute a true cluster? Ultimately, what are the key relationships, linkages and processes that ground the cluster in its existing location?

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Eriksson and U. Lindgren Localized mobility clusters: impacts of labour market externalities on firm performance J. Econ. Geogr., August 2, 2008; (2008) lbn025v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Kloosterman Walls and bridges: knowledge spillover between 'superdutch' architectural firms J. Econ. Geogr., July 1, 2008; 8(4): 545 - 563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Sturgeon, J. Van Biesebroeck, and G. Gereffi Value chains, networks and clusters: reframing the global automotive industry J. Econ. Geogr., May 1, 2008; 8(3): 297 - 321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Y. Cooper and J. S. Park The Impact of `Incubator' Organizations on Opportunity Recognition and Technology Innovation in New, Entrepreneurial High-technology Ventures International Small Business Journal, February 1, 2008; 26(1): 27 - 56. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. H. Hansen The far side of international business: local initiatives in the global workshop J. Econ. Geogr., January 1, 2008; 8(1): 1 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Palmer and P. O'Kane Strategy as practice: interactive governance spaces and the corporate strategies of retail transnationals J. Econ. Geogr., July 1, 2007; 7(4): 515 - 535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Faulconbridge Stretching tacit knowledge beyond a local fix? Global spaces of learning in advertising professional service firms J. Econ. Geogr., August 1, 2006; 6(4): 517 - 540. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Bathelt Geographies of production: growth regimes in spatial perspective (II) - knowledge creation and growth in clusters Progress in Human Geography, April 1, 2005; 29(2): 204 - 216. [PDF]