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The Dilemmas of Operationalizing Cluster Policy: The Medical Technology Cluster in the West Midlands

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  • Alex Burfitt
  • Stewart Macneill
  • John Gibney

Abstract

“Clusters” have become central to European regional economic development policy. However, concerns have emerged over the content and quality of delivery of cluster-based initiatives. Here we review the implementation of English cluster policy, with a focus on medical technologies in the West Midlands region of the UK. Using a policy streams framework, we seek rapprochement between counter arguments that implementation difficulties are the inevitable results of applying a “fuzzy” concept or are avoidable outcomes of organizational deficiencies. We illustrate how both can contribute to failure at different policy stages and suggest that before adopting a cluster approach more consideration should be given to the institutional capacity required for implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Burfitt & Stewart Macneill & John Gibney, 2007. "The Dilemmas of Operationalizing Cluster Policy: The Medical Technology Cluster in the West Midlands," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(9), pages 1273-1290, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:15:y:2007:i:9:p:1273-1290
    DOI: 10.1080/09654310701529284
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    Cited by:

    1. Nancy Holman, 2013. "Effective Strategy Implementation: Why Partnership Interconnectivity Matters," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 31(1), pages 82-101, February.
    2. Miranda Ebbekink, 2017. "Cluster governance: A practical way out of a congested state of governance plurality," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(4), pages 621-639, June.
    3. Alex Burfitt & Stewart Macneill, 2008. "The Challenges of Pursuing Cluster Policy in the Congested State," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 492-505, June.
    4. David Bailey & Stewart MacNeill, 2008. "The Rover Task Force: A case study in proactive and reactive policy intervention?," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 1(1), pages 109-124, November.
    5. Charles H. Davis, 2011. "Media Industry Clusters and Public Policy," Chapters, in: Charlie Karlsson & Robert G. Picard (ed.), Media Clusters, chapter 4, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Ansgar Dorenkamp & Ivo Mossig, 2010. "Economic Policy and its Impact on the Evolution of Clusters and Spatial Systems Exemplified by German TV Programme Production," Chapters, in: Dirk Fornahl & Sebastian Henn & Max-Peter Menzel (ed.), Emerging Clusters, chapter 3, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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