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Are technology gatekeepers renewing clusters? Understanding gatekeepers and their dynamics across cluster life cycles

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  • Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver
  • Jose Albors-Garrigos

Abstract

The cluster literature assumes that technology gatekeepers (TGs) shape a district's learning process and its evolution. However, analysis of the resilience of TGs, and their role across different stages of the cluster life cycle (CLC), is absent. Instead, most of the evidence that has been produced is set at a particular stage of the CLC. This article seeks to use a qualitative case study to understand the dynamics of TGs, and their knowledge creation and diffusion capabilities in the CLC renewal period. This is a stage less studied in the literature. Further, the article explores TG resilience across different stages of the CLC. Our results show that not all TGs are resilient and necessary for cluster renewal. In addition, they are not sufficient for fostering disruptions: their manifest reluctance to destroy the status quo and their network centrality makes necessary the entrance of new firms with new knowledge. TGs are necessary because they facilitate a cluster's transition across stages thanks to their powerful control of the most vital aspect of clusters: networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Jose-Luis Hervas-Oliver & Jose Albors-Garrigos, 2014. "Are technology gatekeepers renewing clusters? Understanding gatekeepers and their dynamics across cluster life cycles," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(5-6), pages 431-452, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:26:y:2014:i:5-6:p:431-452
    DOI: 10.1080/08985626.2014.933489
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    Cited by:

    1. Hervas-Oliver, Jose-Luis & Lleo, María & Cervello, Roberto, 2017. "The dynamics of cluster entrepreneurship: Knowledge legacy from parents or agglomeration effects? The case of the Castellon ceramic tile district," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 73-92.
    2. Luciana Lazzeretti & Francesco Capone, 2017. "The transformation of the Prato industrial district: an organisational ecology analysis of the co-evolution of Italian and Chinese firms," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 58(1), pages 135-158, January.
    3. Audretsch, B. David & Belitski, Maksim, 2023. "The limits to open innovation and its impact on innovation performance," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    4. Renato Garcia & Veneziano Araújo & Suelene Mascarini & Emerson Gomes Dos Santos & Ariana Ribeiro Costa, 2018. "An Analysis Of The Relation Between Geographical And Cognitive Proximity In University-Industry Linkages," Anais do XLIV Encontro Nacional de Economia [Proceedings of the 44th Brazilian Economics Meeting] 132, ANPEC - Associação Nacional dos Centros de Pós-Graduação em Economia [Brazilian Association of Graduate Programs in Economics].
    5. Dirk Fornahl & Robert Hassink & Max-Peter Menzel, 2015. "Broadening Our Knowledge on Cluster Evolution," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(10), pages 1921-1931, October.
    6. Pinkse, Jonatan & Vernay, Anne-Lorène & D’Ippolito, Beatrice, 2018. "An organisational perspective on the cluster paradox: Exploring how members of a cluster manage the tension between continuity and renewal," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 674-685.
    7. Silvestri, Raffaele & Bocconcelli, Roberta & Carloni, Elisa & Pagano, Alessandro, 2022. "Interorganizational R&D projects in clustering contexts: A resource interaction perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 343-355.
    8. Di Wu & Neil M. Coe, 2023. "Bottom-up cluster branding through boundary spanners: The case of the Jingdezhen ceramics cluster in China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(14), pages 2874-2900, November.
    9. Díez-Vial, Isabel & Montoro-Sánchez, Ángeles, 2020. "International gatekeepers: How to integrate domestic networks and international relations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    10. Yanyan Liu & Ying Cheng & Wei Liu, 2018. "Understanding Gatekeeping Transformation in the Chinese EV Industry: An Exploratory Study of the Focal Firms' Cross-industrial Interactions," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 16(3-B), pages 485-503.
    11. Tobias Koenig & Thomas Brenner, 2024. "Decline or renewal? Factors influencing the evolution of mature industrial clusters," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2418, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised May 2024.
    12. Bastien Bernela & Marie Ferru & Marc-Hubert Depret, 2017. "When genesis shapes cluster life cycle? Applying mixed method on a French cluster case study," Working Papers halshs-01616929, HAL.
    13. Jiaxin Wang & Qinghong Xie & Xinyu Geng, 2024. "Exploring the Effects of Multi-Governance Mechanisms throughout the Dynamic Evolution of the Cooperative Innovation Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-27, February.
    14. Bettiol, Marco & Burlina, Chiara & Chiarvesio, Maria & Di Maria, Eleonora, 2017. "From Delocalisation to Backshoring? Evidence from Italian Industrial Districts," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 39, pages 137-154.
    15. Giulio Buciuni & Gary Pisano, 2018. "Knowledge integrators and the survival of manufacturing clusters," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 18(5), pages 1069-1089.
    16. Kang, Moon Jung & Hwang, Jongwoon, 2016. "Structural dynamics of innovation networks funded by the European Union in the context of systemic innovation of the renewable energy sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 471-490.
    17. José Antonio Belso-Martínez & Manuel Expósito-Langa & Francisco Mas-Verdú & F. Xavier Molina-Morales, 2017. "Dynamics of Brokerage Positions in Clusters: Evidence from the Spanish Foodstuffs Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-18, February.

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