Competitive Regional Clusters: National Policy Approaches

In today's globalising world, the regional specialisations built up over decades are transforming rapidly. Many regions that were historically production centres in a given sector are losing out to lower-cost locations and reorienting to higher value-added niches. National programmes to promote cluster-based approaches -- linking firms, people and knowledge at a regional level -- are being used to meet the challenge. This report analyses the objectives, targeting, instruments and inter-governmental role sharing used by 26 programmes in 14 OECD countries. It will be of interest to policy makers, researchers, firms and others active in promoting innovation and competitiveness.

Executive Summary Introduction Part I. Synthesis Report Chapter 1. Why Are Clusters Popular, Againoe Chapter 2. Where Do the Programmes Originateoe Chapter 3. How Do Programmes Pick Participantsoe Chapter 4. What Instruments Do They Use and Howoe Chapter 5. Who Does Whatoe Governance Chapter 6. What Have We Learnedoe Bibliography Part II. Case Studies Chapter 7. Canada Chapter 8. Czech Republic Chapter 9. Finland Chapter 10. France Chapter 11. Germany Chapter 12. Italy Chapter 13. Japan Chapter 14. Korea Chapter 15. Netherlands Chapter 16. Norway Chapter 17. Spain: The Basque Country Chapter 18. Sweden Chapter 19. United Kingdom Chapter 20. United States: Georgia Chapter 21. United States: Oregon