Building virtual network for high-tech industry clusters: lessons from China

Abstract

Extending current theories about industry clusters, we set up a theoretical framework to explore the developing drivers in the emerging context from the virtual network perspective. By summarising previous studies, we find that clusters originate from two forces policy-driving or local environment. Taking Zhangjiang High-tech Park of China as an in-depth case study, we find out that policy-driving plays a more significant role at the knowledge-intense clusters in China. We conclude that the dynamics for virtual networking in high-tech industry cluster are mainly the industry environment, policy-driving, supporting infrastructure, network attributes, and the relative linkage. The contribution of this paper is to enrich the existing theory and identify the drivers to build virtual network for high-tech industry clusters in emerging countries like China.