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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...

Bramwell A., Nelles J. and Wolfe D. A. Knowledge, innovation and institutions: global and local dimensions of the ICT cluster in Waterloo, Canada, Regional Studies. This paper presents research findings on the information and communication technology (ICT) cluster in Waterloo, Ontario. Cluster dynamics in Canada do not conform to some of the key assumptions in the literature on clusters that emphasize the importance of local intra-cluster dynamics based on inter-firm linkages at the local level. The results of this case study indicate that many inter-firm linkages in the Waterloo ICT cluster are non-local, and that extra-firm institutional supports, such as the local university and industry association, are critical in sustaining and strengthening the cluster. Knowledge-based cluster theories that emphasize the role of local and global knowledge flows and learning processes, and the interaction effect of civic capital and local institutions in supporting the development of a local 'learning economy', provide more compelling explanations for the resilience of the ICT cluster in Waterloo, Ontario. [image omitted] Bramwell A., Nelles J. et Wolfe D. A. La connaissance, l'innovation, et les institutions: les dimensions mondiales et locales de la grappe TIC a Waterloo, au Canada, Regional Studies. Cet article cherche a presenter les resultats des recherches effectuees sur la grappe de technologie de l'information et de la communication (TIC) a Waterloo, dans l'Ontario. Au Canada, la dynamique de grappes ne se conforme pas a quelques-unes des suppositions cle de la documentation sur les grappes qui met l'accent sur l'importance de la dynamique locale des grappes fondee sur les rapports interentreprises d'envergure locale. Les resultats de cette etude de cas indiquent que beaucoup des rapports interentreprises de la grappe TIC a Waterloo ne sont pas locaux et que le soutien institutionnel externe, tel l'universite locale et les relations industrielles, s'avere indispensable pour maintenir et consolider la grappe. Les theories de grappes fondees sur la notion de connaissance et soulignant le role des flux de connaissance locale et mondiale et des processus d'apprentissage, et l'impact de l'interaction du capital municipal et des institutions locales dans le but de soutenir le developpement d'une 'economie d'apprentissage' locale, fournissent des explications indiscutables de la faculte de reprise de la grappe TIC a Waterloo, dans l'Ontario. Dynamique de grappes Technologie de l'information et de la communication Competitivite Economie d'apprentissage Amenagement du territoire Bramwell A., Nelles J. und Wolfe D. A. Wissen, Innovation und Institutionen: globale und lokale Dimensionen des Clusters fur Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie in Waterloo (Kanada), Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag werden die Ergebnisse der Forschung uber den Cluster fur Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie in Waterloo (Ontario, Kanada) vorgestellt. Die Dynamik der Cluster in Kanada entspricht nicht einigen der zentralen Annahmen i...

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