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Between Luminaires and Meat Grinders: International Trade Fairs as Temporary Clusters

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  • Harald Bathelt
  • Nina Schuldt

Abstract

Bathelt H. and Schuldt N. Between luminaires and meat grinders: international trade fairs as temporary clusters, Regional Studies. This paper claims that international trade fairs, viewed as temporary clusters, are important events that support economic processes of interactive learning and knowledge creation. In such settings, geographical proximity and face-to-face contact enable actors from different countries to exchange information about markets, products and innovations. The variety of planned and unplanned meetings and the rich ecology of information flows and different forms of interaction create 'global buzz'. Firms use such events to consciously establish 'pipelines' with new business partners worldwide. The paper will present empirical evidence from two flagship fairs held in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, to support these claims. [image omitted] Bathelt H. et Schuldt N. Soit magasin de luminaires, soit hachoirs de viande: les foires commerciales internationales comme grappes temporaires, Regional Studies. Cet article cherche a affirmer que les foires commerciales internationales, considerees comme grappes temporaires sont des evenements qui soutiennent les processus economiques en faveur de l'apprentissage interactif et de la creation de la connaissance. Dans de tels contextes, la proximite geographique et le face-a-face permettent aux agents en provenance des differents pays d'echanger des informations sur les marches, les produits et les innovations. La variete de reunions prevues et imprevues et le riche melange de flux d'informations et de differentes formes d'interaction font 'vrombir' sur le plan mondial. Les entreprises se servent de tels evenements afin d'etablir consciemment des 'pipelines' avec de nouveaux partenaires commerciaux dans le monde entier. Pour soutenir ces affirmations, l'article presente des preuves empiriques aupres de deux foires vedettes qui ont lieu a Francfort, en Allemagne. Grappes temporaires Foires commerciales internationales Vrombissement mondial Etablissement des pipelines Creation de la connaissance Face-a-face Bathelt H. und Schuldt N. Zwischen Designerleuchten und Fleischwolfen: Internationale Messeveranstaltungen als temporare Cluster, Regional Studies. Der Beitrag betrachtet internationale Messeveranstaltungen als temporare Cluster und argumentiert, dass diese Veranstaltungen in substanzieller Weise Prozesse des interaktiven Lernens und der Wissensgenerierung von Unternehmen unterstutzen. Die vorhandene raumliche Nahe und Vielzahl der Face-to-Face-Kontakte zwischen Ausstellern, Besuchern und Multiplikatoren aus vielen Teilen der Welt ermoglichen auf Messen in konzentrierter Form den Austausch von Informationen uber Markte, Produkte und Innovationen. Die Vielschichtigkeit geplanter und ungeplanter Treffen mit unterschiedlichen Akteuren, die dichte Informationsokologie und verschiedene Formen der Interaktion generieren den sog. 'Global Buzz'. Unternehmen nutzen die Veranstaltungen, um gezielt 'Pipelines' zu neuen Geschaftspartnern aufzubauen. Der Beitrag liefert empirische Belege uber die Struktur der Informationsflusse und Interaktionsprozesse basierend auf Unternehmensbefragungen bei zwei internationalen Leitmessen in Frankfurt/Main. Temporare Cluster Internationale Messeveranstaltungen Global Buzz Pipelines Wissensgenerierung Face-to-Face-Kontakte Bathelt H. y Schuldt N. Entre luminarias y trituradoras de carne: Ferias comerciales internacionales como agrupaciones temporales, Regional Studies. En este ensayo, defendemos que las ferias comerciales internacionales consideradas como agrupaciones temporales son acontecimientos importantes que respaldan los procesos economicos de aprendizaje interactivo y creacion de conocimientos. En estos contextos, la proximidad geografica y el contacto personal facilitan que los protagonistas de diferentes paises puedan intercambiar informacion sobre mercados, productos e innovaciones. La variedad de las reuniones planificados o sin planificar y la rica ecologia de los flujos de informacion y las diferentes formas de interaccion crean una 'agitacion global'. Las empresas utilizan tales eventos para establecer conscientemente 'rutas' con nuevos socios comerciales en todo el mundo. En este articulo damos pruebas empiricas de dos ferias representativas celebradas en Francfort/Main, Alemania, para respaldar estas argumentaciones. Agrupaciones temporales Ferias comerciales internacionales Agitacion global Formacion de rutas Creacion del conocimiento Contacto personal

Suggested Citation

  • Harald Bathelt & Nina Schuldt, 2008. "Between Luminaires and Meat Grinders: International Trade Fairs as Temporary Clusters," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(6), pages 853-868.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:regstd:v:42:y:2008:i:6:p:853-868
    DOI: 10.1080/00343400701543298
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael S. Dahl & Christian Ø.R. Pedersen, 2003. "Knowledge Flows through Informal Contacts in Industrial Clusters Myths or Realities?," DRUID Working Papers 03-01, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
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