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How Can the Governance of the French Clusters (Pôles de Compétitivité) Improve SME’s Competitiveness?

Author

Listed:
  • Martine Gadille

    (LEST - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay
  • Alena A. Siarheyeva

Abstract

This paper focuses on Pôles de compétitivité-the French competitiveness clusters (FCC)-which mobilize national and regional actors and resources for innovation. By reviewing the literature (academic, web and news articles, and official reports) published on the subject, the synthesis emphasizes a collective learning process leading to institutional change reflected by legitimation of SMEs as full-fledged innovation actor. Through reflexive governance of certain poles, centered on their own sustainability, the policy has produced learning at local and national level. It has generated knowledge that has brought transformation of operational tools and societal representations in support of innovation of SMEs. The originality of the article is to show that in the French societal context, new place dependencies within the Pôles are characterized by emergence of a new innovation model of SMEs mainly through collaboration with public research. This model differs from the innovation model of SMEs staying outside of the poles. It is built through intermediary organizations that offer regional filters for national and regional policy adaptation. A major limitation of the policy is the difficulty to enhance cooperation between innovative SMEs and leader firms in the territory mainly because of a lack of social regulation over the protection and share of knowledge assets. The paper contributes to the research on clusters in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Martine Gadille & Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay & Alena A. Siarheyeva, 2021. "How Can the Governance of the French Clusters (Pôles de Compétitivité) Improve SME’s Competitiveness?," Post-Print hal-03168926, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03168926
    DOI: 10.4236/jss.2021.93008
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03168926
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mafini Dosso, 2014. "Restructuring in France's innovation system: from the mission-oriented model to a systemic approach of innovation," LEM Papers Series 2014/05, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    2. Bengt-Åke Lundvall, 2002. "Innovation, Growth and Social Cohesion," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2466.
    3. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/10222 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Duranton, Gilles & Martin, Philippe & Mayer, Thierry & Mayneris, Florian, 2010. "The Economics of Clusters: Lessons from the French Experience," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199592203.
    5. Pierre-Yves Gomez, 2008. "La gouvernance des pôles de compétitivité. Impasses théoriques et reformulation de la spécificité des pôles," Revue française de gestion, Lavoisier, vol. 0(10), pages 197-209.
    6. Martine Gadille & Philippe Méhaut & Bruno Courault, 2013. "Compétences et régulation des marchés du travail dans les pôles de compétitivité : le cas du pôle Pégase," Revue d'économie régionale et urbaine, Armand Colin, vol. 0(2), pages 339-361.
    7. Lionel Fontagné & Pamina Koenig & Florian Mayneris & Sandra Poncet, 2013. "Cluster Policies And Firm Selection: Evidence From France," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(5), pages 897-922, December.
    8. Martin, Philippe & Mayer, Thierry & Mayneris, Florian, 2011. "Public support to clusters: A firm level study of French "Local Productive Systems"," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 108-123, March.
    9. Emilie-Pauline Gallié & Anna Glaser & Valérie Mérindol & Thierry Weil, 2013. "How Do Pre-existing R&D Activities in a Region Influence the Performance of Cluster Initiatives? The Case of French Competitiveness Clusters," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(10), pages 1653-1675, October.
    10. Hans B. Thorelli, 1986. "Networks: Between markets and hierarchies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 37-51, January.
    11. repec:hal:wpspec:info:hdl:2441/10222 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Pascal Corbel & Hervé Chomienne & Claude Serfati, 2011. "L'appropriation du savoir entre laboratoires publics et entreprises. La gestion des tensions au sein d'un pôle de compétitivité," Revue française de gestion, Lavoisier, vol. 0(1), pages 149-163.
    13. Martine Gadille & Julien Machado, 2010. "La formation dans les PME d'un pôle, rapports au savoir et division du travail," Post-Print halshs-00574297, HAL.
    14. Ann Markusen, 1996. "Sticky Places in Slippery Space: A Typology of Industrial Districts," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 72(3), pages 293-313, July.
    15. Hancke, Bob, 2002. "Large Firms and Institutional Change: Industrial Renewal and Economic Restructuring in France," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199252053.
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    1. Martine Gadille & Juan Ramón Gallego-Bono, 2021. "Rebuilding a Cluster While Protecting Knowledge within Low-Medium-Tech Supplier SMEs: A Spanish and French Comparison," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-35, October.

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    Keywords

    Clusters; Competitiveness; Cooperation; SME; Knowledge; R&D; Innovation;
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