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Analyzing an Innovative Environment: San Diego as a Bioscience Beachhead

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  • Susan M. Walcott

    (Georgia State University)

Abstract

This article examines dynamics underlying the growth of a flourishing bioscience cluster in San Diego, California, to illustrate the construction of an innovative environment and the matching of place characteristics with a specific economic activity. Extensive interviews explore the formation of synergistic connections promoting the political, economic, and social networks of entrepreneurial individuals at the metropolitan scale. Spatial proximity is shaped by real estate considerations within and between local clusters in a volatile industry affected strongly by shifting access to financial and human capital. Five key factors underlying regional success are found to be access to an outstanding research university, advocacy leadership, risk financing, an entrepreneurial culture, and appropriate real estate, knit by an intensive information exchange network.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan M. Walcott, 2002. "Analyzing an Innovative Environment: San Diego as a Bioscience Beachhead," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 16(2), pages 99-114, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:16:y:2002:i:2:p:99-114
    DOI: 10.1177/0891242402016002001
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    Cited by:

    1. Richard Deitz & Ramon Garcia, 2002. "Vitality in upstate medical manufacturing," The Regional Economy of Upstate New York, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, issue Fall.
    2. Christos Kolympiris & Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, 2013. "Geographic scope of proximity effects among small life sciences firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1059-1086, May.
    3. Titze, Mirko & Brachert, Matthias & Kubis, Alexander, 2008. "The Identification of Regional Industrial Clusters Using Qualitative Input-Output Analysis," IWH Discussion Papers 13/2008, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    4. Allen Scott, 2006. "Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Industrial Development: Geography and the Creative Field Revisited," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 1-24, February.
    5. Christopher S. Hayter, 2016. "A trajectory of early-stage spinoff success: the role of knowledge intermediaries within an entrepreneurial university ecosystem," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 633-656, October.
    6. Weiping Wu, 2007. "State Policies, Enterprise Dynamism, and Innovation System in Shanghai, China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 544-566, December.
    7. Grimaldi, Rosa & Kenney, Martin & Siegel, Donald S. & Wright, Mike, 2011. "30 years after Bayh-Dole: Reassessing academic entrepreneurship," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(8), pages 1045-1057, October.

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