The Role of Clusters and Public Policy in New Regional Economic Path Development

Bjørn Asheim, Arne Isaksen (), Roman Martin and Michaela Trippl ()
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Arne Isaksen : University of Agder, Norway

No 2015/44, Papers in Innovation Studies from Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research

Abstract: This chapter deals with the role of clusters and public policy in new regional economic path development. New path development is analysed from an institutional perspective by focussing on changes in the wider regional innovation system (RIS), including firms, universities and governmental agencies, and by placing emphasis on the role that public policy can play. We argue that new regional economic path development requires a broad-based policy approach that stimulates cross-fertilizing effects between different industrial activities within and beyond the region. While cluster policies are well suited to support the growth and sustainment of existing industries, policies for new path development should aim at regional diversification and variety creation, preferably based on existing strengths and expertise in the region. These ideas are central to the Constructing Regional Advantage (CRA) approach. Empirically, the chapter draws on case study research on two new regional economic growth paths in Sweden and Norway, namely the new media cluster in Southern Sweden and the Oslo Cancer cluster. While the first is an example of path renewal through combining knowledge bases, the latter is an example for new path creation based on scientific knowledge. The empirical analysis underlines the role that public policy can play in facilitating new regional economic path development.

Keywords: new path development; cluster evolution; regional innovation policy; constructing regional advantage; Oslo Cancer Cluster; New Media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O18 O20 O38 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 19 pages
Date: 2015-12-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-geo, nep-ino and nep-sbm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Chapter: The role of clusters and public policy in new regional economic path development (2017)
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