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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?

Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. and Wolfe D. A. Do clusters make a difference? Defining and assessing their economic performance, Regional Studies. This paper contributes to the literature on cluster dynamics by developing a new methodology for identifying clusters that is not dependent on United States-based definitions. This methodology is used to test if the geographical clustering of economic activities leads to superior industrial performance and regional competitiveness. The analysis produces two important findings. First, when industries locate in an urban region with a critical mass of related industries, they tend to generate both higher incomes and rates of employment growth. Second, the overall prevalence of clustering within a city-region is positively associated with income levels and employment growth. [image omitted] Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. et Wolfe D. A. Les grappes, qu'est-ce qu'elles changent? Definir et evaluer leur performance economique, Regional Studies. Cet article cherche a contribuer a la documentation sur la dynamique des grappes en developpant une nouvelle methodologie qui identifie les grappes et qui ne depend pas des definitions americaines. On se sert de cette methodologie afin d'evaluer si, oui ou non, le regroupement geographique des activites economiques entraine une meilleure performance industrielle et une competitivite regionale accrue. Il s'avere deux conclusions importantes. Primo, au moment ou les industries s'installent dans une zone urbaine dotee d'un nombre critique d'industries qui s'y rattachent, elles ont tendance a creer a la fois des revenus et des taux de croissance de l'emploi plus eleves. Secundo, la tendance globale au regroupement au sein d'une cite-region est etroitement liee au niveau des revenus et a la croissance de l'emploi. Grappes Emplacement industriel Competitivite Performance economique Amenagement du territoire Canada Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. und Wolfe D. A. Machen Cluster einen Unterschied? Definition und Bewertung ihrer Wirtschaftsleistung, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag zur Literatur uber Cluster-Dynamik entwickeln wir eine neue Methodologie zur Identifizierung von Clustern unabhangig von den Definitionen der USA. Anhand dieser Methodologie uberprufen wir, ob die geografische Ballung wirtschaftlicher Aktivitaten zu einer uberlegenen industriellen Leistung und regionalen Wettbewerbsfahigkeit fuhrt. Unsere Analyse fuhrt zu zwei wichtigen Ergebnissen. Erstens: Wenn sich Branchen in einer urbanen Region mit einer kritischen Masse zugehoriger Branchen ansiedeln, erzeugen sie tendenziell hohere Einkommen und Raten von Beschaftigungswachstum. Zweitens: Die generelle Pravalenz von Clustern innerhalb einer Stadtregion hangt positiv mit der Einkommenshohe und dem Beschaftigungswachstum zusammen. Cluster Industriestandort Konkurrenzfahigkeit Wirtschaftsleistung Regionale Wirtschaftsentwicklung Kanada Spencer G. M., Vinodrai T., Gertler M. S. y Wolfe D. A. �Marcan las aglomeraciones una diferencia? Definicion y...