Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Before going into the discussion about the MSC project and more specifically
the Technoprenuer Development programs, a brief overview of the concept of
clustering is provided. A cluster has been described as a geographical concen-
tration of mutually dependent companies with vertical as well as horizontal and
cooperative as well as competitive relational patterns, and furthermore companies
that operate within the same branch or on the basis of the same basic technology
(Jacobs and De Man
1996
).
While clusters are made up of companies of different sizes and structures, it is
the support system to help development of entrepreneurial and/or small and
medium enterprises that is of specific interest to this study. Also of interest is the
question—what country strategies can be discerned in cluster-based policy, is
addressed by authors like Porter (
1995
) and Quandt (
1998
) who point to various
roles for governments in cluster-based policy. Quandt (
1998
) identified several
generic factors from literature that are associated with the development of a
cluster. He states, two factors may be considered as necessary, but not sufficient—
they are a capable scientific and technological infrastructure and a critical mass of
human resources. This includes universities, technological incubators, science
parks, etc. Other generic local ingredients comprise business infrastructure
including development agencies, business associations, chambers of commerce. It
also comprises financing opportunities through the availability of seed, venture,
and investment capital. In addition to grants for training and R&D and government
officers providing a wide range of services in the area, Quandt (
1998
) lists physical
infrastructure, favorable business climate, existence of government incentives, and
diversified economic base as factors needed to develop a cluster. In addition to the
above soft factors like existence of champions, science and business linkages,
broad support base, information networks, marketing, and image building are also
hard to grasp but important factors for the development of clusters (Quant
1997
).
Successful clusters depend not only on government policies and infrastructure but
also on other aspects like the private and the public sector (usually universities and
research institutions), which join efforts to create innovative environments and to
build synergies among the agents with complementary capabilities.
In addition to studies on clustering, studies of National Systems of Innovation
focuses on flows of knowledge and development in technology sectors is attributed
to the linkages and the bonds of interchange among various institutions of a
nations system. Policymakers are supposed to be able to find possibilities on ways
to embellish innovative exploits in the knowledge-based economies of today by
understanding these systems. (OECD
1997
) It is in this light that the chapter looks
the Technopreneur Development Program as support system for entrepreneurial
and small and medium enterprises under the MSC project.
The chapter starts by providing a background to the MSC project followed by a
section where the MSC is explained as one of the major regional systems for
innovation in Malaysia. Some of the weaknesses of the initiative in terms of
supporting entrepreneurial ventures and/or SMEs are identified, providing the
background to the development of the MSC Technopreneur Development Program
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