Does collective learning in clusters contribute to innovation?

Abstract

This paper explores the phenomenon of collective learning in the context of clusters, and investigates how collective learning contributes to the innovation performance of cluster firms. Collective learning is an interactive process of accumulating knowledge from different local resources. The process is made possible through several channels. Analysing data collected from 290 cluster firms, we identified three collective learning channels: interaction with local firms, interaction with local institutions, and interaction with the local labour market. Additionally, we tested how these channels contribute to innovation performance of cluster firms. The results reveal that local labour is positively related to innovation performance, while indicating that interaction with local firms is negatively related to innovation performance. The conclusions discuss the policy implications of these findings. S

Human capital and the role of networks : migration, inclusion and new qualification for a sustainable regional economy

“…In this context, recognized studies explain the regional ability and capacity to innovate by "successful" regional co-operations in terms of the "Triple Helix" based on university-industry-governance relations (Hassing & Klaerding, 2012;; Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 1995). In-depth studies stress the importance of clusters or, more generally, of (knowledge) networks for regional innovation activities (Boschma, 2015;; Terstriep & Lüthje, 2014;; Cotic-Svetina et al, 2008;; Cooke, 2001;; Rehfeld, 1999;; Porter, 1990). Likewise, other authors pay attention to factors that support innovation, such as the proximity of companies and organisations (Asheim & Gertler, 2005;; Boschma, 2005), and specific innovationencouraging cultures or milieus (Clifton et al, 2014;; Crevoisier, 2011).…”

“…Following these ideas, Bathel et al, (2004) describe tacit knowledge as a distinguishing feature of regions, contributing to a regional competitive capacity (Stockhorst, 2011). The collective learning effects of regional actors (Cotic-Svetina et al, 2008) cause tacit knowledge to accumulate over the course of a human lifetime to become the source of a regional characteristic. As a result, the importance of human capital as a carrier moves to the foreground.…”

“…The importance of knowledge as a foundation for regional innovation and competitiveness, as discussed above, was early on topic of much interdisciplinary research (Al-Laham et al, 2011;; Cotic-Svetina et al, 2008;; Lawson & Lorenz, 1998) mainly located in spatial science, social science, and economics. It is assumed that knowledge as coupled to humans, and foremost highly skilled workers, makes up the regional human capital, which constitutes a regional knowledge base.…”

“…He characterizes tacit knowledge as a kind of previous knowledge that therefore can only be ascertained with difficulty. By evoking collective learning effects within regions (Cotic-Svetina et al, 2008), tacit knowledge cumulates in the course of a human life. As a result, the importance of human capital moves to the foreground.…”

“…Second, the highly skilled workers examine knowledge due to its regional importance, and third, they exploit knowledge using their absorptive capacity. AlLaham et al (2011) and Cotic-Svetina et al (2008) declare that regional tacit knowledge is embodied in the employees' skills and activities and unfolds in interactions with other employees. Despite the fact that proximity, human capital interactions and regional history matter for knowledge generation and exploitation, a continuous inflow of external knowledge is an essential precondition for regions' competitiveness and economic growth (Malmberg & Power, 2005;; Butzin, 2000).…”