The role of technological gatekeepers in the growth of industrial clusters: Evidence from Chile

Elisa Giuliani ()

No 1013, Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) from Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography

Abstract: Industrial clusters are often associated with innovative success. However, there is very little research on what types of organizational models apply to clusters as they grow, to facilitate upgrading and innovation Ð and especially in emerging/developing countries. This paper uses longitudinal micro-level data for a wine cluster in Chile. They show that the most advanced firms in the cluster behave as Technological Gatekeepers Ð i.e. they acquire knowledge outside cluster boundaries and contribute to diffusing knowledge to other, potentially rival, local firms Ð and do so persistently over time. The results are explained by combining three theoretical perspectives: evolutionary economics theory; business studies on communities of practice and knowledge workersÕ know-how trade; and embeddedness theory.

Keywords: Industrial clusters; technological gatekeepers; knowledge networks; wine industry; Chile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2010-10, Revised 2010-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse and nep-sbm
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http://econ.geo.uu.nl/peeg/peeg1013.pdf Version October 2010 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Role of Technological Gatekeepers in the Growth of Industrial Clusters: Evidence from Chile (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:egu:wpaper:1013

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