Italian Industrial Districts: A Triple Helix Pattern of Problem Solving

Abstract

<jats:p> Industrial districts are local hyper-networks of self-organizing and innovating small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), which, in terms of competitiveness and employment, play an important role in Italy's society and economy. Italy's industrial structure is deeply embedded in social relations, which are stratified and vary from territory to territory. The university, partially replaced by innovation centres, plays a weak role. For industrial districts to survive the current crisis, an industrial policy based on new theoretical approaches is needed, capable of analysing and dealing with emergent forms of industrial organization. </jats:p>

Measuring the knowledge base of regional innovation systems in Germany in terms of a Triple Helix dynamics

“…For example, despite their productivity, innovativeness, and the density of relations networked in different dimensions (Biggiero, 1998), industrial districts and regions may suffer from deindustrialization because of the globalizing dynamics in the appropriation of the profits and the advantages of innovation (Beccatini et al, 2003). The neo-institutional perspective of social network analysis has provided us with a view of the (potentially changing) relations in the districts, but not on the dynamics.…”

The Knowledge-Based Economy and the Triple Helix Model

“…Sometimes, the geographical delineation of systems of innovation in niches is straightforward, as in the case of the Italian industrial districts. These comprise often only a few valleys (Beccatini et al, 2003;Biggiero, 1998). The evaluation of a 'system of innovation' can also vary according to the different perspectives of policy making.…”

Globalization and Self-organization: The Consequences of Decentralization for Industrial Organization

“…It means that local networks-as industrial districts are (Biggiero, 1998a)-can survive only by connecting themselves to global networks, and opening their boundaries. They must break the closure which helped to trigger their development.…”