What is it about?
Cluster theory argues that cluster yield innovation at the level of firms and regions. But what are the characteristics and activities of clustered firms in relation to their innovativeness? This paper examines whether firms’ interactions within a cluster facilitate innovation cooperation that positively impact their innovation success.
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Why is it important?
Partial least squares structural modelling of data from 104 firms in two software and IT-service clusters reveals that the frequency of firms’ interactions with other cluster members facilitates innovation cooperation, while firm’s absorptive capacity reinforces this positive effect. However, we find no statistically significant relationship between firms’ innovation cooperation with partners the in cluster and their innovation success.
Perspectives
I hope this paper helps firms to take an informed decision on their degree engagement in clusters and advances understanding the mechanisms that underly positive cluster effects to allow cluster managers to provide targeted support to its members.
Dr Judith Terstriep
Westphalian University Gelsenkirchen, Institute for Work and Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Innovation, knowledge and relations – on the role of clusters for firms’ innovativeness, European Planning Studies, October 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2018.1530152.
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