In this paper we compare the two hi-tech districts of Catania and Genoa, which are within the same national context and economic sector, with the aim of explaining their different choices (the promotion of external investments, in the first case, and fostering of the development of small businesses, in the second case) in the light of the local economic structure and the role played by political, economic, and educational institutions. Local actors have differently influenced the development of a professional community through the interpersonal networks of entrepreneurs and the performance obtained by local small businesses. While Catania has experienced a higher and more rapid growth, development in Genoa seems to be better established.
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