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Intermediaries and Capability Building in ‘Emerging’ Clusters

Author

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  • Ian Clarke

    (Greenwich Business School, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS, England)

  • Matias Ramirez

    (Science and Technology Policy Research, The Freeman Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QE, England)

Abstract

Increasing attention has begun to focus on the important role that organisations undertaking intermediary functions can play in supporting emerging clusters of small producers. In contrast to most studies of intermediaries that focus on governance and filling information gaps, in this paper we examine how the organisational skills of intermediaries evolve as firms in the cluster assume a broader range of practices. Through a purpose-built typology and a detailed case study, the argument is made not only that intermediaries act to facilitate the diffusion of knowledge but also that their scope of activities, extending into coordinating joint actions and new investment initiatives, places them at the centre of the network of organisations. This growing influence of intermediaries has implications for producer firms, especially in aspects such as inclusion of smaller producers and network formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Clarke & Matias Ramirez, 2014. "Intermediaries and Capability Building in ‘Emerging’ Clusters," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 32(4), pages 714-730, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:32:y:2014:i:4:p:714-730
    DOI: 10.1068/c1262r
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Clarke, Ian & Klerkx, Laurens & Ramirez, Matias, 2016. "Learning and innovation in developing economy clusters: Comparing private and non-profit intermediaries in cluster governance," Greenwich Papers in Political Economy 16712, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre.
    2. Asbjørn Karlsen & Henrik Brynthe Lund & Markus Steen, 2019. "Cluster absorptive capacity: Two types of intermediaries in technology upgrading of manufacturing clusters," PEGIS geo-disc-2019_17, Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    3. Brita Hermelin & Hans Rämö, 2017. "Intermediary activities and agendas of regional cleantech networks in Sweden," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(1), pages 130-146, February.
    4. Ramirez, Matias & Bernal, Paloma & Clarke, Ian & Hernandez, Ivan, 2018. "The role of social networks in the inclusion of small-scale producers in agri-food developing clusters," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 59-70.
    5. Abdelkader Djeflat & Yevgeny Kuznetsov, 2014. "Innovation Policy Reforms, Emerging Role Models and Bridge Institutions: Evidence from North African Economies," African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(5), pages 467-479, September.
    6. 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.

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