Industrial Clusters Research Articles

PROBABLE CHANGE OF PRODUCTION CHAINS WITH INDUSTRIAL NETWORKS AND CLUSTERS BASED ON SPECIALIZATION AND DIVISION OF LABOUR AFTER THE PANDEMIC

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole world will operate remarkably differently over its global production chain. This paper develops a general equilibrium model with endogenous industrial cluster and endogenous industrial network based on the division of labor and specialization to formalize and explore the interrelationship and rules of industrial cluster, network of division of labor, the economies of specialization and agglomeration under the new era of post-pandemic global economy. The model suggests that institutional efficiency of mutual trust, and competition among countries and industries will facilitate important circular effects, which will propel and shape the arrangement and allocation of industrial clusters, the position located at the production chain, and consequently the status of economic growth. In particular, the improvements in institutional efficiency of mutual trust over economic and technology systems will expand the demand for transactions and network size, which in turn will determine the development of cluster and network scope, as well as the position of the network. It offers a partially economic explanation of the current concern of de-globalization, decoupling and de-risking after the pandemic.

Gold in phosphorites: Accumulation forms and practical significance

Research subject. The gold-bearing potential of modern (oceanic) and ancient industrial types of phosphorite ores, including aphanitic, microgranular, granular, nodular, shell and karst. Aim. To assess the ability of phosphorites to accumulate gold to industrial concentrations. This issue has been actively discussed in the geological community in recent years due to the advent of high-precision methods for studying matter. Methods. Russian and foreign publications, unpublished geological data, as well as the authors’ data collected over a 30-year period of studying phosphorites. Results and discussion. In the section, 14 packs of rocks were identified, which are represented by 6 lithological types of secondary dolomites. Their distribution along the section, along with the presence of characteristic faunal remains, made it possible to establish three members in the section, which can be correlated with the Katian, Hirnantian, and Ruddanian stages of the General Stratigraphic Scale. Conclusion. Conditions for the possible joint accumulation of phosphates and gold are manifested in black shale basins, as well as in shelf shallow waters with glauconite-sand sediments. However, due to significant differences in the natural features of gold and phosphates, their industrial clusters are formed separately from each other. This is evidenced by the insignificant accumulation of phosphorus in the ores of gold deposits of black shale formations,as well as its low-quality concentrations in industrial phosphorite beds of phosphorite-bearing basins. For gold, phosphorites are only temporary collectors, the productivity of which depends on the combination of many, frequently random and slightly related factors.

Ecological and human health risk assessment of pharmaceutical compounds in the Sirsa River of Indian Himalayas

The Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) region of Indian Himalayas is one of the most important pharmaceutical industrial clusters in Asia. This study investigated the distribution, and ecological and human health risks of four most frequently used pharmaceuticals [ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR), cetirizine (CTZ) and citalopram oxalate (ECP)] when co-occurring with metal ions in the Sirsa river water of the BBN region. The concentration range of the selected pharmaceuticals was between ‘not detected’ to 50 μgL−1 with some exception for CIP (50–100 μgL-1) and CTZ (100–150 μgL-1) in locations directly receiving wastewater discharges. A significant correlation was found between the occurrences of NOR and Al (r2 = 0.65; p = 0.01), and CTZ and K (r2 = 0.50; p = 0.01) and Mg (r2 = 0.50; p = 0.01). A high-level ecological risk [risk quotient (RQ) > 1] was observed for algae from all the pharmaceuticals. A medium-level risk (RQ = 0.01–0.1) was observed for Daphnia from CIP, NOR and ECP, and a high-level risk from CTZ. A low-level risk was observed for fishes from CIP and NOR, whereas CTZ and ECP posed a high-level risk to fishes. The overall risk to ecological receptors was in the order: CTZ > CIP > ECP > NOR. Samples from the river locations receiving water from municipal drains or situated near landfill and pharmaceutical factories exhibited RQ > 1 for all pharmaceuticals. The average hazard quotient (HQ) values for the compounds followed the order: CTZ (0.18) > ECP (0.15) > NOR (0.001) > CIP (0.0003) for children (0–6 years); ECP (0.49) > CTZ (0.29) > NOR (0.005) > CIP (0.001) for children (7–17 years), and ECP (0.34) > CTZ (0.21) > NOR (0.007) > CIP (0.001) for adults (>17 years). The calculated risk values did not readily confirm the status of water as safe or unsafe because the values of predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) would depend on various other environmental factors such as quality of the toxicity data, and species sensitivity and distribution, which warrants further research.

The 156 Projects and Regional Industrial Clustering of China—Evidence from Production Networks

The 156 Projects and Regional Industrial Clustering of China—Evidence from Production Networks

Formation of Economic Sovereignty of the Russian Federation: Regional Aspect

The relevance of the research topic is determined by the development and improvement of the state policy for the formation of economic sovereignty of the Russian Federation. The import substitution policy implemented in recent years has yielded positive economic solutions that make it possible not to experience a shortage of goods and production components. With the support of federal and regional authorities, the subjects of economic sovereignty formation (special economic zones, industrial parks, industrial and innovation clusters, etc.) are actively developing. Purpose. The main purpose of the study is to substantiate promising areas for ensuring the economic sovereignty of the Russian Federation in the context of the development of regional investment infrastructure. Objectives: of the study are as follows: substantiation of the directions for ensuring economic sovereignty, analysis and assessment of investments in fixed assets of the regions of the Central Federal District, study of the rating of the subjects of the Central Federal District in terms of investments in fixed assets. Methodology. The methodological basis of the study was the works of domestic scientists in the field of theory and practice of economic policy, economic regulation, and increasing the stability of the economy in the face of sanctions. The results of the study show that the most promising areas for ensuring economic sovereignty are the financing of infrastructure and high-tech industries, the development and support of industrial parks, industrial clusters, the development of investment activity, including through the support of large investment projects, and increasing the efficiency of investments in fixed assets. Conclusions. The results of the study show that the most promising areas for ensuring economic sovereignty are the financing of infrastructure and high-tech industries, the development and support of industrial parks, industrial clusters, the development of investment activity, including through the support of large investment projects, and increasing the efficiency of investments in fixed assets.

Evaluation of Low-Carbon Economic Efficiency under Industrial Clustering and Study of Regional Differences, Taking Xinjiang as an Example

As a major resource region, Xinjiang is both China’s energy security base and an important hub connecting Asia and Europe. Following the country’s call for carbon emission reduction, the Xinjiang government proposes to accelerate the construction of eight major industrial clusters in 2023. The concept of sustainable development is also reflected in the industrial clusters in areas such as new energy. In this study, we combined panel data from 14 regions and cities in Xinjiang from 2006 to 2020 and analyzed the synergy between the development of industrial clusters, carbon emissions, and economic growth using a coupling coordination degree model. Subsequently, we used the super-efficiency slack-based measure (SE-SBM) and Dagum’s Gini coefficient to analyze the spatial disequilibrium of efficiency measures and efficiency cases. The results show the following: (1) Overall, the industrial clusters, carbon emissions, and economic growth in the 14 regions and cities of Xinjiang are not well coordinated. The best reported level has been medium coordination, but there exists a certain degree of correlation among the three. (2) Low-carbon economic efficiency under the influence of industrial clusters in the 14 regions and cities shows significant regional differences. The regions and cities with low-carbon economic efficiency greater than 0.8, which is significantly better than the other regions in terms of efficiency, are all located in northern Xinjiang. (3) During the study period, the overall regional difference in low-carbon economic efficiency under industrial clusters in Xinjiang decreased from 0.183 to 0.17. However, the regional differences were still large. The conclusions indicate that policies for industrial clusters in Xinjiang can promote industrial development, and there may be a correlation between them and the low-carbon economy. This will effectively contribute to local sustainable development. However, overall regional differences are significant, and the degree of coordination is low. Therefore, we suggest that the government can share the advantages of development by constructing cross-regional cooperation platforms. At the same time, the Xinjiang government should make full use of the rich local wind and solar energy resources and explore a low-carbon path toward transforming the traditional energy industry. It can also be seen that industrial clusters in Xinjiang can effectively promote local sustainable development.

Analysis of Competitiveness in the Domestic Semiconductor Cluster Using Entropy Technique: Based on the GEM-ESG Model

Purpose - The study aims to conduct an empirical analysis of semiconductor cluster integrated competitiveness with a focus on the GEM-ESG model. Specifically, the study seeks to compare and analyze the development factors of semiconductor clusters in different regions. The results of the empirical study will reveal a clear concentration phenomenon in the semiconductor industry clusters of some regions.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - Previous research has established the factors influencing the competitive advantage of industrial clusters. The study collected competitive indicators from major South Korean cities and regions, incorporating these into the GEM model, and exploring ESG indicators relevant to the semiconductor industry. The study utilized Entropy Technique analysis to empirically assess the competitiveness of the South Korean semiconductor cluster and conduct comparative testing of the research findings.
 Findings - The results revealed a concentration phenomenon in the semiconductor industry clusters of Yongin and Chungbuk Province. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of factors such as “groundings (G)”, “enterprise management (E)”, “market conditions (M)”, and ESG practices in determining competitiveness.
 Research Implications - Through empirical analyses, the study emphasizes the significance of GEM and ESG factors in the analysis of industrial clusters, particularly in contributing to long-term sustainability and competitive advantage focusing on the collaboration and alignment of ESG values.

Enhancing University Contributions to Tech Management and Entrepreneurship Education in Dynamic Industrial Clusters

Enhancing University Contributions to Tech Management and Entrepreneurship Education in Dynamic Industrial Clusters

Exploring Crowd Funding as a Sustainable Financing Option among MSME in Odisha: A Case Study in Khurda District

The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector is an essential and dynamic part of the Indian economy. However, these small businesses often face challenges when it comes to raising funds. Crowd funding has become a revolutionary concept in the field of finance, transforming how people and organisations raise money for their endeavours. This study aims to assess the factors affecting crowd funding as a sustainable financing option among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Odisha. It also focuses on understanding the level of awareness and knowledge about crowd funding as a new and innovative financial model among the Populace of Odisha. Based upon review of literature and further interviews with the managers of MSME the five key variables which affects the adoption of crowd funding was identified. The survey involved 385 MSMEs from various industrial clusters across Khurda district in Odisha and the samples were selected using the convenience sampling technique. The findings of the study revealed that there is a moderate level of awareness of crowd funding among MSMEs in Odisha. By understanding the current perceptions and attitudes of people of MSMEs in Odisha towards crowd funding, various stakeholders such as investors, regulators, and policymakers can make more informed decisions that can potentially empower the MSME sector and drive economic growth in the region.

Literature Review on Circular Economy Development in Agriculture with Bibliometrics Method

This paper uses 382 researchs from web of science to review on the topic circular economy development in agriculture. The author uses the bibliometrics method to find out the results, methodology for 23 years and the trend of this topic in the future. In the 336 articles, research methods were classified into three main categories: qualitative research, quantitative research, and mixed research with the qualitative research is much more numerous than quantitative and mixed research. The trend of this topic includes: (1) integrated approaches to reduce CO2 to stabilize climate change and related impacts, (2) Reasonable use of water: many studies show that good quality fresh water is an increasingly rare resource. (3) Seasonal, locally produced, environmentally friendly foods (organic, ecological, with limited energy and chemical inputs) will become increasingly important and utilized. (4) Environmental improvements in SMEs in local industrial zones (“industrial clusters”) can be achieved.

Industrial clusters as a vehicle for circular economy transition: A case study of networks in four industrial clusters in Zimbabwe

Multiple stakeholder partnerships are required to attain a Circular Economy (CE). Circularity can be achieved through industrial clusters in geographical proximity to each other. This research aims to assess the effects of industrial clustering on the adoption of CE in Zimbabwe (Workington, Southerton, Willowvale and Stapleford) in order to develop strategies for strengthening the impact of collaboration on CE practices in industry. The Workington and Southerton clusters were assessed as a joint cluster due to regular joint programming, whereas Willowvale and Stapleford were assessed separately. Interviews, document reviews and site visits were undertaken at selected members within the industrial clusters to understand some CE initiatives being carried out. A waste auditing programme was evaluated, resulting in ecological and economic benefits. Whilst many organisations were located in clusters, not all of them participated in CE activities. The Workington-Southerton cluster consisted of twenty-five (25) active members mainly dominated by private sector organisations in the manufacturing sector whilst Willowvale cluster had four (4) active members and Stapleford had nine (9) active members from industry and community network at the time of assessment. The main types of industries included food and beverages, fertiliser, metal fabrication, cable manufacturing, seed processing. Engineering, transport and bone char production. Collaboration based on geographical proximity allowed the organisations to undertake training, capacity building, workshops and industrial symbiosis. Implementation of the Industrial Waste Auditing Project (IWAP) by the networks, facilitated adoption of CE measures and presented an opportunity of improved waste recycling. It is concluded that geographical proximity can be used as an opportunity to facilitate attainment of a Circular Economy, but on its own is not a determinant of network success. Deeper issues of legal status, governance, value adding activities and financial viability - determine the ultimate impact of industrial clusters. We conclude that due to geographical proximity, there are opportunities of promoting industrial symbiosis. However, these opportunities need financing, technical capacity, governance and external support. Theoretical contributions of the research relate to the need for hybrid financing models to support CE activities and governance frameworks that provide oversight on industrial clusters. Further theoretical contributions relate to the new forms association beyond idiosyncratic organisations and advancing the need for measurable effects of collaboration using hybrid financing. Our theoretical contributions reveal new insights in governance and ownership of networks, especially how this can affect the delivery of CE activities.

The transformative potential of inward investment on industrial cluster development: the case of the semiconductor industry in Wales

ABSTRACT This paper examines the transformative potential of inward investment on cluster development. It undertakes this through the lens of the evolving semiconductor cluster in South Wales (UK) and within a context whereby the semiconductor industry is under pressure with government interventions to improve prospects being implemented at a time of increasing global tension in the industry. The paper reveals the potential of inward investors as agents of regional economic change and cluster development. It shows that the emerging South Wales cluster distinguishes itself in terms of investment motivation, commodities and services produced. These factors result in growing embeddedness in relation to elements such as joint research with higher education and intra-firm collaboration to develop new products and processes. The paper concludes that investments based on risky and fast-changing technologies in industries such as the semiconductor sector necessarily create challenges for policy makers. These are best managed by placing greater emphasis on developing the conditions to satisfy the needs of such knowledge-intensive industries in relation to labour market conditions, factor conditions and market access.

Managing Strategic Tensions in the Development of Organizational Ecosystems

The paper explores the key strategic tensions in the development of organizational ecosystems as well as the applied responses. It presents a conceptual overview of the key tension areas faced by the coordinators of complex inter-organizational systems and the results of empirical case studies conducted in knowledge-intensive industrial clusters in Lithuania (in the fields of high-technologies, information and communications technology, medical innovations and wellness products, cinema and game industries, machinery production and tourism). The research presented in the paper identifies eight strategic tensions faced by the leaders responsible for the development of organizational ecosystems: (1) focused interventionism vs. self-organization; (2) hierarchy-based structures vs. network-based (eco)systems; (3) under-connectedness vs. over-connectedness; (4) central rules vs. emerging metanorms; (5) short-term vs. long-term orientation; (6) focus on elements vs. relationships in the system; (7) big wins vs. small wins; and (8) exploitation vs. exploration. Case studies and expert interviews with the coordinators of different industrial clusters revealed the diversity of adopted approaches. The more mature the social and industrial context of the industrial cluster is, the less pronounced are the strategic tensions, and there is less need for focused interventions. In cases where such interventions are needed, the leaders of ecosystems adopt one of the following approaches: (1) take a position on one of the extremes by seeking to leverage the situation; (2) adopt a trade-off approach by seeking a point of balance; (3) capitalize on both extremes at the same time. The adopted approach may vary from one strategic tension to another within the same organizational ecosystem.

An Investigation of the Cause of Delay in the Operationalization of Industrial Clusters in Zambia

The Zambian government, through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), sourced funding from the African Development Bank and constructed eight Industrial clusters in 2018, one in each of the following towns, Kafue, Chipata, Mongu, Ndola, Kitwe, Solwezi, Mansa and Kasama. These clusters were to be operational by 2019. However, as at June 2023, only three industrial clusters in Chipata, Kasama, and Mongu were operational. This paper reports the findings on the causes of the delay in operationalizing the constructed industrial clusters. A qualitative research design was used to identify the factors causing delay in the operationalization of the industrial clusters. The findings revealed that, inadequate funding by government was a major impediment on the operationalization of the industrial clusters accounting for about 42%, while management of CEEC, due to being politically inclined, accounted for 22.7%. The other factors are: change in government support strategy to small businesses, which necessitated remodelling of cluster buildings to accommodate cooperatives in the industrial clusters (19%), industrial clusters located in the outskirts of the central business districts (9.7%), and lack of engineering and information technology services (6.3%). This study recommends an industrial cluster implementation which is devoid of political influence, and independent management body.

Dynamic connectivity assessment for a terrestrial predator in a metropolitan region

Protecting wildlife movement corridors is critical for species conservation. Urban planning often aims to create corridors for animal movement through conservation initiatives. However, research on connectivity for urban wildlife is limited. Here, we assessed connectivity for coyotes (Canis latrans) dynamically across temporal scales and demographic traits, parametrized using the habitat selection of 27 global positioning system (GPS)‐collared coyotes in the city of Toronto, Canada. The habitat selection models accounted for human population density, impervious area, vegetation density, and distance to different linear features. Results indicated that (1) vegetation‐dense areas were key for connectivity in urban areas; (2) riverbanks, railways, and areas below power lines were predicted as movement corridors; and (3) commercial and industrial clusters strongly disrupted connectivity. Spatiotemporal differences in connectivity were associated with time of day and coyote social status but not with climate and biological seasonality or coyote age and sex. Residential roads were pivotal in the temporal dynamism of connectivity. The maintenance and enhancement of plant structural complexity along key infrastructure (for example, highways, waterways, and parking lots) should be considered when managing connectivity corridors in cities.

Necessary engagement in stakeholder relationships for successful membership in industrial clusters

Regression-based research on industrial clusters has shown that the development and economic impact of clusters largely depends on cluster member firms´ engagement in building stakeholder relationships, which affects cluster members´ growth in sales, employment, and market share, the rate of product innovation and quality, overall competitiveness, and financial performance. Minimal necessary levels of engagement in specific stakeholder relationships to impact performance indicators and maximum levels of engagement above which further efforts become inefficient have not been researched so far. The research provides first insights on those issues by comparing the results of Multiple Regression Analysis and multiple Necessary Condition Analysis applied to empirical data from the Iceland Ocean Cluster. The study contributes to the knowledge on stakeholder relationship management and cluster firm performance. Engagement in all stakeholder relationship building activities has highly significant positive net effects on most indicators of firm performance used in the study. However, the effect sizes of necessary engagements, necessary minimum levels, and levels of inefficiency substantially differ depending on stakeholder and relationship building activity. Cluster firm and cluster organization managers gain insights into the effective allocation of resources to high impact relationship building activities.

Knowledge Flows and Industrial Clusters: Assessing the Sources of Competitive Advantage in Two English Regions

How knowledge is created, accessed, stored and disseminated has become a major focus of study when assessing the success or failure of industrial clusters. Marshall (1890; 225) initiated this debate when he noted: ‘The mysteries of the trade become no mysteries; but are as it were in the air’. In the edited collection by Wilson, Corker and Lane (2022), emphasis has been placed on the links between knowledge, knowledge flows and how innovation systems evolve and adapt. This paper builds on their work examining how tacit and codified knowledge is created and disseminated across a cluster. Bathelt et al (2004) have demonstrated how successful clusters build effective ‘global pipelines’ to access knowledge generated elsewhere, prompting us to think how a business history analysis can incorporate these concepts and how these processes have worked in practice. The paper analyses two English clusters and the processes involved in the formation of a common body of knowledge, a ‘knowledge-cum-industrial zeitgeist’ which explains the cluster’s performance. Specifically, it proposes a model that links internally-generated knowledge and ‘global pipelines’ that clusters develop to tap into externally-generated knowledge, which through effective feedback into the ‘local buzz’ results in further innovation and strengthens the cluster’s competitive advantage.

The Importance of Digital Technology and Clustering for Innovation in MSEs. Evidence from Secondary Data in Indonesia

This paper explores the relationship between innovation and these two determinants in micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the manufacturing industry in Indonesia, using secondary data. The key question in this research: is there evidence of the importance of DT and clustering for innovation capability in MSEs in Indonesia? The paper analyzes secondary data from Indonesia’s National Agency of Statistics and reviews key literature on innovation and digitalization in MSEs, and industrial cluster development in Indonesia. It is found that the number of industrial clusters of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) is concentrated on the island of Java, where more than 50% of the population is located, and is the most advanced region in economic development and industrialization in Indonesia. The majority of MSME clusters are in the food industry and woodworking industries. Only a very few of MSEs in the manufacturing industry use the Internet and do innovation. The type of innovation mostly is product innovation. Both relationships between MSEs doing innovation and MSEs using the internet and the total number of clusters are positive. But, statistically, only the relationship between the number of MSEs doing innovation and use of the internet is significant.

The Possibility of Wide Area Evacuation in the Event of Natural Disasters: A Survey in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture

In industrial clusters that are affected by earthquakes and tsunamis, advance countermeasures are necessary to ensure the continuity of business operations of companies. This article presents the results of a questionnaire survey of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, to determine the current status of disaster countermeasures, and a questionnaire survey of residents’ awareness of risks and their current countermeasures.

Micro-pathways to Technology Spillover in Industrial Agglomerations: Evidence from Manufacturing Enterprises in Guangdong Province

Abstract: Under the "new normal" economy, the driving force of industrial agglomeration has gradually shifted from factor- and investment-driven to innovation-driven economic growth. This article uses the local and global industrial clustering indices based on the density accumulation function to measure overall industrial agglomeration. The authors then adopt the system GMM (generalised method of moments) model to analyse the technology spillover effect of industrial agglomeration. Findings have identified three pathways of technology spillover: spatial agglomeration, specialisation spillover and technological networks. Enterprises at the centre of industrial agglomerations have stronger technological innovation capabilities. Specialisation agglomeration has a significantly positive impact on technological innovation. Technology cooperation networks have a significantly positive impact on improving technological innovation and thus form an important pathway for technology spillover in industrial agglomerations.