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The brokerage role of supporting organizations inside clusters: how does it work?

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  • Jose Antonio Belso-Martinez
  • Isabel Diez-Vial
  • Maria Jose Lopez-Sanchez
  • Rosario Mateu-Garcia

Abstract

The objective of this research is to examine in depth the brokerage roles that supporting institutions play in conducting local business and applying technical knowledge inside clusters. We identify three main roles: a coordination role, characterized by the efforts that organizations play in internally coordinating themselves and establishing a shared institutional framework; an interconnector role, where organizations foster communication along the value chain of the industry; and a gatekeeper role that allows organizations to connect cluster members with external networks. Results obtained in the Toy Valley cluster provide evidence that each kind of supporting organization tends to specialize in specific roles, since universities are best for a coordination role with regard to technical knowledge while private organizations are key for vertical communication and coordination. Similar results were obtained when analysing the extra-cluster contacts that these organizations develop as gatekeepers, as they tend to establish specific communication conduits with similar alters in external networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Jose Antonio Belso-Martinez & Isabel Diez-Vial & Maria Jose Lopez-Sanchez & Rosario Mateu-Garcia, 2018. "The brokerage role of supporting organizations inside clusters: how does it work?," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 706-725, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:26:y:2018:i:4:p:706-725
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2017.1422482
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Miriam Delgado-Verde & Isabel Díez-Vial, 2024. "New product development and supplier involvement: the role of R&D collaboration with supporting organisations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 518-541, April.
    2. Massa, Lorenzo & Ardito, Lorenzo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2022. "Brokerage dynamics in technology transfer networks: A multi-case study," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    3. Liping Fu & Fan Wu & Shan Zhang, 2022. "Evolutionary Path and Innovative Development of Pharmaceutical Industrial Cluster—A Case Study of Shijiazhuang, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Díez-Vial, Isabel & Montoro-Sánchez, Ángeles, 2020. "International gatekeepers: How to integrate domestic networks and international relations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    5. Galaso, Pablo & Masi Fadlala, Fernando & Picasso, Santiago & Rodríguez Miranda, Adrián & Servín Belotto, María Belén, 2024. "Organizaciones de apoyo: conectando redes para la innovación empresarial en clústeres de un país en desarrollo," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 59, pages 193-211.
    6. Franzò, Simone & Doppio, Nicola & Natalicchio, Angelo & Frattini, Federico & Mion, Luca, 2023. "Designing innovation contests to support external knowledge search in small and medium-sized enterprises," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    7. Daniel Feser, 2023. "Innovation intermediaries revised: a systematic literature review on innovation intermediaries’ role for knowledge sharing," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(5), pages 1827-1862, July.
    8. Hongli Lin & Yuming Zhu & Jiahe Zhou & Bingxu Mu & Caihong Liu, 2022. "Stakeholder Engagement Behavior(s) in Sustainable Brownfield Regeneration: A Network Embeddedness Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-21, May.

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