Networking and Technology Transfer in the Spanish Ceramic Tiles Cluster: Its Role in the Sector Competitiveness

Jose G Albors

The Journal of Technology Transfer, 2002, vol. 27, issue 3, 263-73

Abstract: The ceramic tile cluster industry in Spain has actually a global turnover of approximately 3.000 M Euros of which a 60% is exported. Its annual growth has been around a steady 20% the last five tears. In spite of the traditional Italian technology leadership, the clusterization of this industry in Spain (90% of the producers are located in a 40 km geographical circle) has altered these traditional R&D roles. The increasing rate of technology transfer and cooperation, which is taking place, especially in the product development area, has enabled this change. This paper will aim to analyze the cluster competitiveness and the technology formal and informal cooperation networks, which have been established during the last twenty years in tile industry and especially in the enamelling and decoration sub sector. A critical variable relates to product and design development. An outstanding fact has been the technology demand-pull movement exerted from the producers (200 firms mostly SMEs) and the consequent quick product development cycles observed in the latest sectoral fairs. Copyright 2002 by Kluwer Academic Publishers

Date: 2002
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