Innovation Clusters Revisited: On Dimensions of Agglomeration, Institution, and Built-Environment

Jianyi Li,Jianming Cai,Douglas Webster,Larissa Muller

doi:10.3390/su11123338

Abstract

Innovation clusters have been the key concept underlying economic development theory and practice since the concept was re-energized in the 1990s. Worldwide efforts promoting cluster development are supposed to be informed by research on cluster dynamics. The plethora of articles and reports on this globally hyped concept often add to the confusion, calling for a systematic synthesis. In academia, the discussion of innovation clusters is characterized by separate literature dealing with agglomeration, institution, and built-environment. This literature review addresses each of those three dimensions, respectively, by discussing both classic perceptions and potential directions for future research.

Highlights

The concept of clusters has a long history dating back to Alfred Marshall’s [1] industrial district and was brought to wider public attention by Michael Porter’s [2] work on competitive advantage
Influence and popularity of the cluster concept are reflected by its frequent appearance in policy practices worldwide, i.e., Americas [5], Europe [6], Asia [7], Australia [8], and Africa [9]
The innovation cluster has become one of the most well-known strategic concepts among policy-makers, planners, scholars, and entrepreneurs involved with urban economic development, city building, and innovation facilitation

Summary

Introduction

The concept of clusters has a long history dating back to Alfred Marshall’s [1] industrial district and was brought to wider public attention by Michael Porter’s [2] work on competitive advantage. Competitive advantages of clusters are shaped and enhanced by place-based qualities that attract industry and workers [25]. The innovation cluster has become one of the most well-known strategic concepts among policy-makers, planners, scholars, and entrepreneurs involved with urban economic development, city building, and innovation facilitation. Given the plethora of articles and reports discussing innovation clusters from various perspectives which often adds to the confusion, there is a need to systematically synthesize current discussions on clusters. Based on reviewing the existing literature, this article addresses three dimensions of innovation clusters, namely agglomeration, institution, and built-environment, respectively. For each dimension, both classic perceptions and current focuses are reviewed to yield the potential future research directions. Since there is an extremely large body literature around clusters or other relevant concepts, this article is not aimed to conduct an exhaustive review covering as much literature as possible, but serves as a concise guide to a few points in cluster research that is worth attention

Agglomertation Effects of Clustering

Cluster Spin-Off

Informal and Formal Institutions of Clusters

Multi-Level Interaction Perspective of Cluster Institutions

Housing Innovation Clusters

Conclusions