IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envirc/v28y2010i6p1063-1082.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cluster Policies in the US and Germany: Varieties of Capitalism Perspective on Two High-Tech States

Author

Listed:
  • Rolf Sternberg

    (Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography, Leibniz University of Hannover, Schneiderberg 50, 30167 Hannover, Germany)

  • Matthias Kiese

    (Institute for Competitiveness and Communication, School of Business, University of Applied Sciences Northwest Switzerland, Riggenbachstrasse 16, 4600 Olten, Switzerland)

  • Dennis Stockinger

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research 151, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

Abstract

Despite the diffusion of cluster policies across time and space, the universal applicability of the underlying concept or its otherwise necessary adaptation to national, regional, and local peculiarities are rarely questioned. Drawing on the varieties of capitalism approach, we adopt an institutional perspective to compare the cluster policies of North Carolina and Bavaria, situated in their countries' multilevel governance frameworks in which the state level interacts with federal and local policies. Contrasting North Carolina and Bavaria, we link the differences in the design and implementation of cluster policies to characteristics of the national institutional environment, as well as to regional specifics and path dependencies. Our findings highlight the importance of institutional contexts that needs to be considered when adapting cluster policies to specific circumstances.

Suggested Citation

  • Rolf Sternberg & Matthias Kiese & Dennis Stockinger, 2010. "Cluster Policies in the US and Germany: Varieties of Capitalism Perspective on Two High-Tech States," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 28(6), pages 1063-1082, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:28:y:2010:i:6:p:1063-1082
    DOI: 10.1068/c1019b
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/c1019b
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1068/c1019b?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Etzkowitz, Henry & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2000. "The dynamics of innovation: from National Systems and "Mode 2" to a Triple Helix of university-industry-government relations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 109-123, February.
    2. Sternberg, Rolf G., 1996. "Government R & D expenditure and space: empirical evidence from five industrialized countries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 741-758, August.
    3. Bjørn Asheim & Lars Coenen, 2006. "Contextualising Regional Innovation Systems in a Globalising Learning Economy: On Knowledge Bases and Institutional Frameworks," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 163-173, January.
    4. Knut Koschatzky & Vivien Lo, 2007. "Promoting regional networking and cluster formation in East Germany: a chance for setting up new regional growth regimes in an economically volatile environment?," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 7(2/3/4/5), pages 462-481.
    5. Eickelpasch, Alexander & Fritsch, Michael, 2005. "Contests for cooperation--A new approach in German innovation policy," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 1269-1282, October.
    6. Dominique Foray & Patrick Llerena, 1992. "Structures informationnelles et modes de coordination dans les politiques technologiques de l'Allemagne de l'Ouest," Revue d'Économie Industrielle, Programme National Persée, vol. 59(1), pages 248-261.
    7. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley, 2003. "Deconstructing clusters: chaotic concept or policy panacea?," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 3(1), pages 5-35, January.
    8. Casper, Steven, 2007. "Creating Silicon Valley in Europe: Public Policy Towards New Technology Industries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199269525.
    9. Gert–Jan Hospers & Sjoerd Beugelsdijk, 2002. "Regional Cluster Policies: Learning by Comparing?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 381-402, August.
    10. Dohse, Dirk, 2000. "Technology policy and the regions -- the case of the BioRegio contest," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(9), pages 1111-1133, December.
    11. Philip Cooke, 2001. "New Economy Innovation Systems: Biotechnology In Europe And The Usa," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 267-289.
    12. Kerber, Wolfgang & Eckardt, Martina, 2005. "Policy learning in Europe: The 'open method of coordination' and laboratory federalism," Thuenen-Series of Applied Economic Theory 48, University of Rostock, Institute of Economics.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Graf, Holger & Broekel, Tom, 2020. "A shot in the dark? Policy influence on cluster networks," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(3).
    2. Jean-Marc Trouille, 2014. "Industrial Nationalism versus European Partnerships: An Analysis of State-Led Franco—German Interfirm Linkages," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 32(6), pages 1059-1082, December.
    3. Sabine Menu, 2012. "The Role of Cluster Policy on Leadership: Evidence from Two Pôles De Compétitivité," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 30(5), pages 816-834, October.
    4. Lutz Eigenhüller & Nicole Litzel & Stefan Fuchs, 2015. "Who with whom: Co-operation activities in a cluster region," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(3), pages 469-497, August.
    5. Markku Sotarauta & Nina Mustikkamäki, 2015. "Institutional Entrepreneurship, Power, and Knowledge in Innovation Systems: Institutionalization of Regenerative Medicine in Tampere, Finland," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 33(2), pages 342-357, April.
    6. Martin Gornig & Alexander Schiersch, 2019. "Agglomeration Economies and the Firm TFP: Different Effects across Industries," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1788, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    7. Matthias Kiese, 2019. "Regional cluster policies in Germany: challenges, impacts and evaluation practices," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1698-1719, December.
    8. Anastasiia Konstantynova & Tine Lehmann, 2017. "Cluster Activities in Different Institutional Environments. Case Studies of ICT-Clusters from Austria, Germany, Ukraine and Serbia," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-15, May.
    9. Nils Grashof, 2019. "Firm-specific cluster effects - A meta-analysis," Bremen Papers on Economics & Innovation 1906, University of Bremen, Faculty of Business Studies and Economics.
    10. Claire Champenois, 2012. "How Can a Cluster Policy Enhance Entrepreneurship? Evidence from the German ‘Bioregio’ Case," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 30(5), pages 796-815, October.
    11. Ferasso, Marcos & Grenier, Corinne, 2021. "Fostering SME's co-development of innovative projects in biotech clusters: Extending the sets of enablers for the knowledge creation process," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    12. Nils Grashof, 2020. "Firm‐specific cluster effects: A meta‐analysis," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(5), pages 1237-1260, October.
    13. María José Aranguren Querejeta & James R. Wilson, 2013. "What can experience with clusters teach us about fostering regional smart specialisation?," EKONOMIAZ. Revista vasca de Economía, Gobierno Vasco / Eusko Jaurlaritza / Basque Government, vol. 83(02), pages 127-174.
    14. Stefano Basilico & Uwe Cantner & Holger Graf, 2023. "Policy influence in the knowledge space: a regional application," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 591-622, April.
    15. Bas Karreman & Martijn J. Burger & Fred van Eenennaam, 2019. "Revealed competition between cluster organizations: An exploratory analysis of the European life sciences sector," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 51(3), pages 705-723, May.
    16. Burger, Peter & Baumohl, Eduard & Vyrostova, Eva, 2017. "Funding Structure of the European and North American Clusters: Results from an Independent Questionnaire," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 65(6), pages 485-504.
    17. Elvira Uyarra & Kieron Flanagan & Edurne Magro & James R Wilson & Markku Sotarauta, 2017. "Understanding regional innovation policy dynamics: Actors, agency and learning," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(4), pages 559-568, June.
    18. Shengjun Zhu & Canfei He, 2016. "Global and local governance, industrial and geographical dynamics: A tale of two clusters," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(8), pages 1453-1473, December.
    19. Okamuro, Hiroyuki & Nishimura, Junichi, 2018. "Whose business is your project? A comparative study of different subsidy policy schemes for collaborative R&D," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 85-96.
    20. Hiroyuki Okamuro & Junichi Nishimura, 2015. "Local Management of National Cluster Policies: Comparative Case Studies of Japanese, German, and French Biotechnology Clusters," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-27, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Graf, Holger & Broekel, Tom, 2020. "A shot in the dark? Policy influence on cluster networks," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(3).
    2. Stefano Basilico & Uwe Cantner & Holger Graf, 2023. "Policy influence in the knowledge space: a regional application," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 591-622, April.
    3. Grashof, Nils, 2020. "Putting the watering can away Towards a targeted (problem-oriented) cluster policy framework," Papers in Innovation Studies 2020/4, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    4. Grashof, Nils, 2021. "Putting the watering can away –Towards a targeted (problem-oriented) cluster policy framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    5. Dirk Fornahl & Sebastian Henn & Max-Peter Menzel (ed.), 2010. "Emerging Clusters," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13533.
    6. Matthias Kiese, 2010. "Policy Transfer and Institutional Learning: An Evolutionary Perspective on Regional Cluster Policies in Germany," Chapters, in: Dirk Fornahl & Sebastian Henn & Max-Peter Menzel (ed.), Emerging Clusters, chapter 13, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Thomas Brenner & Carsten Emmrich & Charlotte Schlump, 2013. "Regional Effects of a Cluster-oriented policy measure. The Case of the InnoRegio program in Germany," Working Papers on Innovation and Space 2013-05, Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography.
    8. Blandinieres, Florence & Krieger, Bastian & Pellens, Maikel, 2021. "Cluster support activities in the German biotechnology sector," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 233052.
    9. Okamuro, Hiroyuki & Nishimura, Junichi, 2011. "Management of Cluster Policies: Case Studies of Japanese, German, and French Bio-clusters," CEI Working Paper Series 2011-7, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    10. Stefan Töpfer & Uwe Cantner & Holger Graf, 2019. "Structural dynamics of innovation networks in German Leading-Edge Clusters," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1816-1839, December.
    11. Filippova, Irina & Unknown, Unknown, 2013. "Кластерные Стратегии И Кластерные Инициативы: Перспективы И Факторы Эффективной Кластеризации [Cluster strategy and cluster initiatives: prospects and factors of effective clustering]," MPRA Paper 49949, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Matthias Firgo & Peter Mayerhofer, 2015. "Wissens-Spillovers und regionale Entwicklung - welche strukturpolitische Ausrichtung optimiert des Wachstum?," Working Paper Reihe der AK Wien - Materialien zu Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft 144, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik.
    13. Valérie Revest & Alessandro Sapio, 2012. "Financing technology-based small firms in Europe: what do we know?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 179-205, July.
    14. Qiu, Shumin & Liu, Xielin & Gao, Taishan, 2017. "Do emerging countries prefer local knowledge or distant knowledge? Spillover effect of university collaborations on local firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7), pages 1299-1311.
    15. Reza Naghizadeh & Shaban Elahi & Manoochehr Manteghi & Sepehr Ghazinoory & Marina Ranga, 2015. "Through the magnifying glass: an analysis of regional innovation models based on co-word and meta-synthesis methods," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 2481-2505, November.
    16. Hassine, Haithem Ben & Mathieu, Claude, 2020. "R&D crowding out or R&D leverage effects: An evaluation of the french cluster-oriented technology policy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    17. Proksch, Dorian & Haberstroh, Marcus Max & Pinkwart, Andreas, 2017. "Increasing the national innovative capacity: Identifying the pathways to success using a comparative method," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 256-270.
    18. Nicola Bellini & Jukka Teras & Hakan Ylinenpaa, 2012. "Science and Technology Parks in the Age of Open Innovation. The Finnish Case," Symphonya. Emerging Issues in Management, University of Milano-Bicocca, issue 1 Innovat, pages 25-44.
    19. Steinmueller, W. Edward, 2010. "Economics of Technology Policy," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 1181-1218, Elsevier.
    20. Titze, Mirko & Brachert, Matthias & Günther, Jutta & Schwartz, Michael, 2010. "Die Identifikation von Wissenschaftsräumen: Eine Konzeptstudie über methodische Ansätze sowie Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der empirischen Erfassung," IWH-Sonderhefte 5/2010, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:28:y:2010:i:6:p:1063-1082. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.