This book presents the results of research conducted on clusters and their internationalisation, highlighting the importance of international collaboration. It shows the possibilities and benefits of internationalisation activities of cluster organisations in increasing the competitiveness of affiliated members. In addition, it offers a detailed evaluation of this type of cluster activities in relation to a range of relevant variables. The research presented here constitutes a valuable contribution to debates concerning cluster internationalisation issues, drawing attention to current trends and presenting a comparison with foreign studies. A particular advantage of the book is that, by focusing on a specific region, namely the Czech Republic, and offering a profound analysis of cluster internationalisation, its findings and recommendations shed new light on internationalisation issues and can further enrich development of such activities among clusters and cluster policies support in other countries. The book will serve as a guide for practitioners, policy makers and academics, and offers insights into the internationalisation of clusters.

This contributed volume studies and explains the effect of agglomeration on a firm’s innovation and performance. It presents new cases as well as new topics within the agglomeration phenomenon, exploring also their role under the Great Recession. Beyond the analysis of regions or clusters, this volume focuses on firms within agglomerations and captures this phenomenon from different perspectives, contexts and diverse literatures. Specifically, it looks at the question under what circumstances exert generate benefits on firms’ performance, and how those gains are generated and distributed, usually asymmetrically, across agglomerated firms. In this context, the book addresses topics such as networks, collocation, labor mobility, firm’s strategies, innovation, competitiveness and collective actions across a diverse set of literatures, including economic geography, business economics, management, social networks, industrial districts, international business, sociology or industry dynamics.

To make the most of its longstanding tradition of manufacturing and innovation, Piedmont, Italy, is undertaking a process of industrial transition, the success of which may be linked to an updated approach to its regional innovation policy. This should include promoting technology and non-technology driven innovation, building the innovation competences of micro- and small enterprises in addition to medium and large ones, better connecting regional innovation actors, and ensuring that innovation contributes to the region’s broader development goals such as sustainable regional development.

The information age is reshaping current socio-economic structures and processes and this book touches upon the nature of clusters in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0; I4.0). It focuses on the spatial perspective of digital business transformation and explores in natural context the interrelations between cluster and I4.0. It investigates the role of knowledge, business relations and policy in making cluster relevant for Industry 4.0 and uses the case study method and literature review to develop a conceptual framework outlining the functioning of Industry 4.0 cluster. This book argues that locally embedded knowledge accompanied by strong presence of industry and assisted by proper governance management facilitate the implementation of I4.0. The idiosyncrasies of Industry 4.0 impact also the functioning of cluster as they require more interdisciplinary integrative approach with the provision of industrial commons and development of related varieties. Natural processes of stretching of the cluster cannot be prevented, but should be harnessed for upgrading the core competences of cluster. This book can enrich existing literature on economic geography and regional studies by discussing the spatial aspects of digital transformation. It shows the cluster transformation as induced by the digital transformation, and will be of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, and students who explore the regional and local development, competitiveness, or managerial aspects of fourth industrial revolution.

Nowadays, single companies are confronted with great difficulties. The progress of the information technology and the distribution of the Internet as well as the changing demand of customers, especially for no-standardised products force them to react immediately.In order to solve these problems, the companies should work on the following aspects:How can they reach the state of flexibility to meet the changing demand? How can they compete within a market with increasing innovations of products and decreasing product life-cycl? How can they acquire the necessary capital, technology and know-how to compete? How is it possible to optimise their corporate structures and achieve synergetic effects?

This book identifies the driving forces behind globalization and proposes innovative ways for small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) to confront them. More than ever, sustainable competitive advantage requires SMEs to continually adapt their strategy and confront new and current competition in the international market. SMEs working with multinational companies could also benefit from winning strategies based on a sensible analysis of rational and irrational phenomena at the micro- and macro-economic levels. This book uses different models developed and established through international business experiences to determine the relevant strategy in the global market. It illustrates each model through real, successful case studies of globalization of factor, efficiency, and innovation-driven SMEs. It will benefit scholars of entrepreneurship, international business, regional development as well as managers, governmental institutions, and regional development, and consultants to SMEs.

European maritime industries are often fragmented, not only geographically, but also in terms of sectors and company size. This book states that, in order to face the increasing global competition, Europe should address these constraints and create a more integrated network and market of the European maritime sectors, industries and entrepreneurs.

Clustering as an economic policy concern has become increasingly fashionable. The authors of this book shed light on this subject of which there remains remarkably little understanding, and even less agreement, regarding what clusters are, what they require for success and what impacts they are likely to have in different contexts, locally, nationally and globally. Clusters and Globalisation brings together scholars with different perspectives and theoretical groundings, and from different disciplines, to consider conceptual arguments and case study material. In doing so the volume identifies key characteristics and requirements of the forms of cluster that are especially significant for the attainment of economic success in a globalising world. This unique critical analysis of clusters in the framework of globalisation will strongly appeal to students and academics with an interest in economic development, public policy and globalisation. The book will also be of great interest to researchers in policy agencies concerned with local economic development and the design of cluster policies.

This book looks at the importance and potential of cluster initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe. Existing clusters are mapped, recent policy advances are described and conclusions are drawn on the potential of business clusters to foster economic growth.