Cluster emergence, development and organisation in contrasting institutional settings: insights from United Kingdom and Norway

Jan Ole Rypestøl, Marion Payne, Arne Isaksen and Jon P. Knudsen

European Planning Studies, 2025, vol. 33, issue 12, 2261-2279

Abstract: This article explores the intersection of cluster theory and the varieties of capitalism (VOC) literature to understand how industry clusters emerge, develop and organise innovation activities in contrasting institutional settings. VOC theory suggests that cluster development and innovation operations tend to differ in liberal market economies (LMEs) and coordinated market economies (CMEs). In LMEs, clusters tend to form spontaneously, while in CMEs, they often rely on policy support for their development. Based on an empirical examination of the media cluster in Bergen, Norway (a CME), and the digital games cluster in Guildford, United Kingdom (an LME), we show that cluster growth and innovation activities are more nuanced than the two ideal models indicate. This article contributes to theory by challenging ideal-type expectations in VOC-based cluster analysis; it also contributes to practice by highlighting the critical but varying roles of universities, entrepreneurial culture and targeted policy support in shaping cluster success.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2025.2557538

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