The idea of industrial clusters forming the basis of regional economic growth has moved rapidly from academe to
policy. This research, which forms part of the ESRC Cities: Cohesion and Competitiveness Programme, suggests
that greater clarity is needed in defining and applying the concept in different regions. Several different types of
clusters have already been identified. The precise basis of their relative success also seems to be different according
to the degree of globalisation present and the position that regions occupy in their national hierarchies. In the case
of London and the South East, the research shows that the internal characteristics of firms, the 'pick and mix'
possibilities of a large agglomeration, and its position as an international trading gatweway, are critical for success
ful innovation in the region.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Becattini, G. (1990), 'The Marshallian industrial district as a socio-economic notion', in Pyke, F., Becattini, G. and Sengenberger, W. (eds), Industrial Districts and Inter-firm Co-operation in Italy, Geneva, International Institute for Labour Statistics, pp. 37-51.
2.
Butchart, R. (1987), 'A new definition of the high-tech industries ', Economic Review, 400, pp. 82-8.
3.
Camagni, R. (ed.) (1991), Innovation Networks: Spatial Perspectives, London, Belhaven-Pinter.
4.
Capello, R. (1999), 'Spatial transfer of knowledge in high technology milieux: learning versus collective learning processes', Regional Studies, special issue: regional networking, collective learning and innovation in high technology SMEs in Europe, 33, 4, pp. 353-65.
5.
Cheshire, P.C. and Gordon, I.R. (1995), 'Change and spatial specialisation within the South East's economy', in Cheshire, P.C. and Gordon, I.R. (eds), Territorial Competition in an Integrating Europe, Aldershot, Avebury.
6.
Chinitz, B. (1961), 'Contrasts in agglomeration: New York and Pittsburgh ', American Economic Review, 51, pp. 279-89.
7.
- ( 1964), 'City and suburb', in Chinitz, B. (ed.), City and Suburb: the Economics of Metropolitan Growth, NJ, Englewood Cliffs.
8.
Decoster, E. and Tabaries, M. (1986), 'L'innovation dans un pole scientifique: le cas de la Cite Scientiflque Ile de France Sud', in Aydalot, P. (ed.), Milieux Innovateurs en Europe, Paris, GREMI, pp. 79-100.
9.
Enright, M. (1995), 'Regional clusters and economic development: 'a research agenda", paper presented to the conference on Regional Clusters and Business Networks1993, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (revised version).
10.
European Commission (1996), Dgs XIII and XVI RITTS and RIS Guidebook, 'Regional Actions for Innovation', Brussels, EC.
11.
Fowler, H. W. and Fowler, F. G. (eds) (1979), The Concise Oxford Dictionary , London, Book Club Associates.
12.
Gordon, I.R. (1996), 'Territorial competition and locational advantage in the London Region', paper presented to the American Association of Geographers annual conference, Charlotte, NC.
13.
- and McCann, P. (1998), 'Industrial clusters, agglomeration and/or social networks?', Paper presented at the Regional Science Association British and Irish Section conference, York .
14.
Granovetter, M. (1973), 'The strength of weak ties', American Journal of Sociology, 78, pp. 1360-80.
15.
- ( 1985), 'Economic action and social structure: the problem of embeddedness', American Journal of Sociology, 91, pp. 481-510.
16.
Hart, D. and Simmie, J.M. (1997), 'Innovation, competition and the structure of local production networks: initial findings from the Hertfordshire project' , Local Economy, November, pp. 235-46.
17.
Hoover, E.M. (1937), Location Theory and the Shoe and Leather Industries , Harvard University Press.
18.
Hoover, E.M. (1948), The Location of Economic Activity, McGraw-Hill.
19.
Isard, W. (1951), 'Location theory and trade theory: distance inputs and the space economy', Quarterly Journal of Economics, 65, pp. 181-98.
20.
Keeble, D., Lawson, C., Moore, B. and Wilkinson, F. (1999), 'Collective learning processes, networking and 'institutional thickness' in the Cambridge Region', Regional Studies, special issue: regional networking, collective learning and innovation in high technology SMEs in Europe, 33, 4, pp. 319-32.
21.
Keeble, D. and Wilkinson, F. (1999), 'Collective learning and knowledge development in the evolution of regional clusters of high technology SMEs in Europe', Regional Studies, special issue: regional networking, collective learning and innovation in high technology SMEs in Europe, 33, 4, pp. 295-303.
22.
Manshanden, W. (1999), 'Business services and regional economic development: the economics of proximity', English PhD summary, Amsterdam , Foundation of Economic Research of the University of Amsterdam
23.
Malmberg, A. (1997), 'Industrial geography: location and learning', Progress in Human Geography, 21, 4, pp. 573-82.
24.
Markusen, A. (1996), 'Sticky places in slippery space: a typology of industrial districts', Economic Geography, 72, pp. 293-313.
25.
Marshall, A. (1919), Industry and Trade, London , Macmillan.
26.
— (1925), Principles of Economics, London , Macmillan.
27.
McCann, P. (1995), 'Rethinking the economics of location and agglomeration' , Urban Studies, 32,3, pp, 563-79.
28.
Maskell, P. and Malmberg, A. (1999), 'Localised learning and industrial competitiveness' , Cambridge Journal of Economics, 23, pp. 293-313.
Oakey, R. (1985), 'High technology industries and agglomeration economies', in Hall, P. and Markusen, A. (eds), Silicon Landscapes, Boston, Allen and Unwin, pp. 94-117.
33.
Oerlemanns, L.A.G. (1996), De Ingebedde Onderneming: Innoveren in Industriele Netwerken, Tilburg, Tilburg University Press.
34.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Statistical Office of the European Communities (1997), Propsed Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Technological Innovation Data, Oslo Manual, Paris, OECD.
35.
Perrin,J. (1988), Comment Naissent les Techniques? Paris, Publisud.
36.
Perroux, F. (1950), 'Economic space: theory and applications', Quarterly Journal of Economics, 64, pp. 89-104.
37.
Piore, M.J. and Sabel, C.F. (1984), The Second Industrial Divide: Possibilities for Prosperity, Basic Books.
38.
Popp, K. (1987), 'Standortfaktoren und standorte der mikroelectronischen industrie', Geographie und Schule, 49, pp. 2-8.
39.
Porter, M.E. (1990), The Competitive Advantage of Nations, The Free Press.
40.
Rabellotti, R. (1995), 'Is there an 'industrial district model'? Footwear districts in Italy and Mexico compared', World Development , 23(1), pp, 29-41.
41.
Sainsbury (Lord) (1999), 'Biotechnology clusters: report of a team led by Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science', London, Department of Trade and Industry.
42.
Schumpeter, J.A. (1939), Business Cycles: A Theoretical, Hisorical and Statistical Analysis of the Capitalist Process, New York , McGraw-Hill.
43.
Simmie, J. M. (ed.) (1996), Innovation, Networks and Learning Regions?, London, Jessica Kingsley.
44.
- ( 1998a), 'Innovate or stagnate: economic planning choices for local production nodes in the global economy', Planning Practice and Research, 13, 1, pp. 35-51.
45.
- ( 1998b), 'Reasons for the development of "Islands of innovation". Evidence from Hertfordshire', Urban Studies, 35, 8, pp. 1261-89.
46.
- and Hart. D. (1999), 'Innovation projects and local production networks: a case study of Hertfordshire', European Planning Studies , 7, 4, pp. 445-62.
47.
Sternberg, R. (1996), 'Reasons for the genesis of high-tech regions - theoretical explanation and empirical evidence', Geoforum , 27, 2, pp. 205-23.
48.
Vaessen, P.M.M. (1993), 'Small business growth in contrasting environments', Netherlands Geographical Studies, 165, Royal Dutch Geographical Society, Utrecht.
49.
- and Keeble, D. (1995), 'Growth-oriented SMEs in unfavourable regional environments', Regional Studies, 29, pp. 489-505.
50.
- and Wever, E. (1993), 'Spatial responsiveness of small firms', Tijdschr. Econ. Soc. Geogr., 84, pp. 119-131.
51.
Veltz, P. (1993), 'L'economie des villes, entre la montee du global et le retour du local', Territoires et Societes (mimeo).
52.
Vernon, R. (1966), 'International investment and international trade in the product cycle', Quarterly Journal of Economics, 80, pp. 190-207.
53.
- ( 1979), 'The product cycle hypothesis in a new international environment', Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics , 41, pp. 255-67.
54.
Weber, A. (1909), Theory of the Location of Industries, translated by C. J. Friedrich 1929, Chicago, University of Chicago Press.
