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Knowledge-based Clusters and Urban Location: The Clustering of Software Consultancy in Oslo

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  • Arne Isaksen

    (Agder University College, Grooseveien 36, 4876 Grimstad, Norway and with the STEP Group, Hammersborg torg 3, 0179 Oslo, Norway, Arne.Isaksen@hia.no)

Abstract

The paper examines the reasons for the clustering of Norwegian software firms in Oslo. The analysis focuses on how software firms perform individual activities and how they interact with other players in performing the activities. The clustering of software firms in Oslo rests first of all on the need for very close interaction between consulting companies and important customers, and among software consulting companies themselves. The fact is that consulting activity is project-based and involves lots of coalition-building and face-to-face contact which is facilitated when players co-locate. Demand-side factors are important in explaining the concentration of software companies in Oslo, while important supply-side factors are the possibilities of meeting persons in other software firms and the gathering of information in formal and informal settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Arne Isaksen, 2004. "Knowledge-based Clusters and Urban Location: The Clustering of Software Consultancy in Oslo," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 41(5-6), pages 1157-1174, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:41:y:2004:i:5-6:p:1157-1174
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980410001675797
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Heidi Wiig Aslesen & Roman Martin & Stefania Sardo, 2019. "The virtual is reality! On physical and virtual space in software firms’ knowledge formation," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(9-10), pages 669-682, October.
    3. Haining Jiang & Wei Xu & Wenzhong Zhang, 2018. "Transportation Accessibility and Location Choice of Japanese-Funded Electronic Information Manufacturing Firms in Shanghai," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Michaela Trippl & Franz Tödtling & Lukas Lengauer, 2009. "Knowledge Sourcing Beyond Buzz and Pipelines: Evidence from the Vienna Software Sector," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 85(4), pages 443-462, October.
    5. Michaela Trippl & Franz Tödtling & Lukas Lengauer, 2007. "The Vienna software cluster: Local buzz without global pipelines?," SRE-Disc sre-disc-2007_07, Institute for Multilevel Governance and Development, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    6. Honggang Qi & Shenghe Liu & Wei Qi & Zhen Liu, 2019. "Geographical Concentration of Knowledge- and Technology-Intensive Industries and City Innovation in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Andrea Caragliu & Camilla Lenzi & Rudolf Pástor & Miroslav Šipikal & Štefan Rehák, 2013. "Knowledge creation and knowledge acquisition in the software industry in Slovakia: the case study of Košice region," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(4), pages 401-415, November.
    8. Seungil Yum, 2019. "The interaction between knowledge-intensive business services and urban economy," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 63(1), pages 53-83, August.
    9. Kristoffer Moeller, 2018. "Culturally clustered or in the cloud? How amenities drive firm location decision in Berlin," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 728-758, September.

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