Entrepreneurship and innovation are the drivers of value creation in the twenty-first century. In the geography of the global economy there are 'hot spots' where new technologies germinate at an astounding rate and pools of capital, expertise, and talent foster the development of new industries, and new ways of doing business. These clusters of innovation have key attributes distinct from traditional industrial clusters that allow them to extend beyond geographic boundaries and serve as models for economic expansion in both developed and developing countries. How do these clusters emerge? What is the role of individual institutions such as governments, universities, major corporations, investors, and the individual entrepreneur? Are there systemic underpinnings, an invisible hand, that encourage these communities?

The book begins with a presentation of the Clusters of Innovation Framework that identifies the salient components, behaviors, and linkages that characterize an innovation cluster, followed by an analysis of the archetypal cluster, Silicon Valley. Subsequent chapters probe how these characteristics apply in a diverse selection of economic communities in Germany, Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, China, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil. Concluding chapters investigate the role of transregional organizations as cross-border disseminators of best practices in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Students and professors of economics, business, public policy, management, entrepreneurship, and innovation will find this book a useful resource. Corporate executives, university administrators, government officials, policy makers, and entrepreneurs will also find it an insightful guide.

Contributors: O. Berry, D. Chapman, J.-M. Chen, S.H. De Cleyn, I. Del Palacio, W. De Waele, J. Engel, F. Feferman, F. Forster, S. Kagami, M. Pareja-Eastaway, J.M. Pique, Q. Lang, C. Scheel, H. Schoenenberger, M. Subodh, V. Trigo, D. Wasserteil, P. Weilerstein, C.-T. Wen

About the Author
Edited by Jerome S. Engel, University of California, Berkeley, US

Reviews
'An important debate that has been going on for decades in the regional science and management literature revolves around the question of the role of clusters for innovation, productivity, and growth. The case studies collected by Professor Jerome S. Engel provide some new inputs to this debate that highlight interesting aspects in particular concerning what he defines as global clusters of innovation.' -- Economic Geography



Book Information
ISBN 9781786434340
Author Jerome S. Engel
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd