Clusters develop in part spontaneously because they can promote knowledge transfers between separate organisations, actors, regions, etc. Are they equally important for all kinds of knowledge transfers, in all kinds of economies? Which are the key sociological or cultural features? Which are the prime sectoral or geographical differences? Are clusters more important for local or for global transfers? Which are the key leverage factors, and players, for knowledge transfers: regulatory conditions, intellectual property rights, factor or product market conditions, individual initiatives. As for players: large firms, universities, SMEs, others? What about institutional rigidity vs. flexibility, pluralism and experimentation?
Clusters can be used/be exploited on purpose by policymakers, national or regional, or by big business, as a tool for achieving various targets. Their role in knowledge transfers may be viewed as important for stimulating certain regions, favouring certain targets, lifting certain groups? Will this risk making clusters the victims of political objectives? Implications for processes of convergence or divergence in knowledge accumulation and incomes?
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