Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
biotechnology, though possibly somewhat less for ICT i rms, a few of which made it into
the UK ICT respondent group.
Finally, there is a broad research agenda arising from this chapter in relation to the
evolutionary economic geography of clusters, but space only permits the elaboration of
three sub-i elds. The i rst and still unanswered issue concerns 'cluster emergence'. In other
words how can it be convincingly demonstrated that some embryonic spatial agglomera-
tion has reached the point when it can be said to be a cluster? There is obvious leverage
from solving this problem from the academic and, particularly, the policy perspectives.
Is 'critical mass' an appropriate notion, what does it mean, and how can it be meas-
ured in ways that have wide applicability? Could evolutionary game theory be a means
of probabilistically modelling cluster emergence? Finally, given clusters are dei ned
in terms of their networks, distinguishing them from agglomerations that lack such
dynamic spillovers, is cluster emergence best understood by application of evolutionary
network theory (e.g. Cantner and Graf, 2006)? A second sub-i eld of great relevance to
the fuller understanding of asymmetries in regional evolution centres on the idea that
has been tested empirically to a limited degree in four case-settings, and concerns spatial
variability in the presence of Jacobian clusters, and for that matter MAR clusters, and
i nally no clusters. Could the cluster mutation evolutionary process be a key to regional
prosperity arising from proximate related variety? In the studied cases it seems to be so.
In North Jutland particularly, it has a recorded beginning with Jutland's regional inno-
vation through 'railroadisation' (Kristensen, 1992; Schumpeter, 1975) in the nineteenth
century. The path dependencies identii ed through cluster mutation are as follows:
Clean technology is path dependent on agricultural and marine engineering (e.g.
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wind turbine blades replicate plough and propeller design) near Aarhus and
Aalborg.
Biotechnology (BIOMEDICO) is path dependent on wireless ICT (NorCOM) and
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medical technology at Aalborg University.
Wireless technology is path dependent on traditional ship-to-shore marine tech-
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nology.
Agro-food became established with the 'railroadisation' of Jutland; organic
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agro-food is a reaction against conventional intensive food production in Jutland
(mostly pig and dairy).
Furniture is path dependent on 'railroadisation', craft schools (350) and the local
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forestry tradition.
Fashion clothing evolved for women from craft schools providing skills for
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farmers' wives in textiles.
Modern i sh equipment and pipework engineering is path dependent on traditional
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i shing and marine engineering centred on Aalborg.
A version of cooperative entrepreneurship with high social capital characterised the
enterprise model of the Jutland pioneers and this has evolved into modern forms of col-
lective entrepreneurship to the present day. Finally, what are the key policy mechanisms
that usefully assist cluster emergence and evolution? The evaluation of eight VINNOVA
Vinnväxt Programme cluster-building projects in Sweden suggests some common
themes. Among the most important and frequently observable of these are: a pre-existing
