Collaboration, co-production, coopetition and coordination: a case study of European 'bridge organisations' in Silicon Valley

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the organisational structure and operational strategies of governmental and quasi-governmental agencies supporting the expansion of high-tech firms in Silicon Valley, California. These agencies are referred to as 'bridge organisations' (BOs). The analysis uses the 4Cs (collaboration, co-production, coopetition and coordination) public governance model developed by Pietrasienski (2014b). A review of research studies on internationalisation modes and on the rationale for supporting internationalisation of firms provides a comprehensive background for the analysis. A categorisation based on the 4C model shows that scientific collaboration is more likely to emerge in BOs closely linked to domestic institutions. Another conclusion is that co-production with local partners is usually the strategy of choice for young BOs that do not have the resources to do more work in-house. This paper also finds that coopetition is usually the preferred choice of entities such as chambers of commerce and employer organisations, and that coordination is an emerging trend at both the national and regional levels.