The research on emerging cluster regions often focuses on infrastructure that is needed to create these regions at the macro-economic level, with minimal consideration of the micro-level human factors that drive these regions. In this study, we develop a theoretical model of micro-level behaviors-that is individual level-that are needed within regions to produce the knowledge, entrepreneurial, and market making functions of innovation systems. Our core argument is that it is through a critical mass of individuals with these behaviors, that an innovation system that supports technology regions will emerge.
Many regions are either without technology clusters or in early stages of their development. This paper uses a micro-foundations perspective to understand the potential for technology development, new venture creation and market creation to occur in these regions. The study surveys people from two city-regions in the Global South — Medellin, Colombia, and Johannesburg, South Africa. The results show that in these two cities that have developed different reputations for innovation, different micro-foundation profiles are present. General support is found for our hypothesis that regional micro-foundations may drive the progress toward technology cluster formation.
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