This monthly selection of articles is been carried out by Philippe Gugler and Basile de Raemy, the Center for Competitiveness, University of Fribourg. The entire selection, carried out since 2013, can be consulted on the academic articles page of our web.

Cluster policy as a tool for  implementing regional development strategy

By: A. Dorzhieva, E. Dugina, V. Belomestnov, L. Garmaeva. SHS Web of Conferences, DOI: 10.1051/shsconf/202110102015, 2021.

Abstract: “In the 2000s, the socio-economic development strategies of almost all regions of the Russian Federation envisaged the formation and development of regional clusters (mostly innovative industrial ones). While the cluster policy had dirigiste nature: the list of potential clusters, the circle of participants, territorial and non-territorial boundaries, the expected effects of operation were determined by regional administrations. The same type of cluster development mechanisms and tools which do not take into account regional specifics and promising economic specializations have led to premature disillusionment in the cluster concept. Full-scale mature clusters can function successfully if their profile is consistent with the specifics of the region, including restrictive factors hindering economic activity (in the Baikal region this is the so-called "Baikal" factor). The article discusses the promising directions of clustering the economy of the Baikal region in the context of the cluster development of the subjects of the Russian Federation, substantiates the role of cluster policy in increasing the connectivity of the economic space of the country and its regions.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Innovations strategy for moving from created regional  clusters to co-creation in life sciences for health care and well-being  ecosystems

By: L. Draudviliene, Z. Stasiskiene, K. Pamakstys, L. Surgaute, C. Maini, M.Gracia Zucchini, G. Mernitz, S. Soltys. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13689-w, May 2021.

Abstract: “Over the last decades, the demographic changes have all altered the population structure and influenced the social, economic, and political characteristics of countries over the world. Therefore, the creation of novel ecosystems, new clusters and systems which involved technology and industry, business, education, science, and innovation are increased rapidly. However, in order to solve the future global challenges, the created various types of clusters, public and private sector systems should cooperate and work together as a unit. Therefore, one of the proposed solutions is unified regional ecosystems’ building. The Interreg European Life Science Ecosystems (ELISE) project addresses the societal challenge which is common to the European regions: to promote better health for all. This covers the need to improve health and well-being outcomes, to promote market growth, job creation, and EU competitiveness. Based on the project, three different regions of the European countries—Poland, Italy, and Germany—are selected in order to perform the analysis of drivers directly influencing the move from the existing clusters to unified regional ecosystem. The performed analysis showed that the government of a country and regional public authorities have the direct influence and play the central role in shaping unified regional ecosystems. The common economic, social, and political situation in a country is dependent on the government and it is influenced by the regional public authorities. Therefore, the collaboration and conversation among such institutions is the important factor defining how quickly different countries will create unified ecosystems and will solve the future problems.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Urban geography vs company geography. An analysis of  location determinants in three European cities

By: S. De Falco. European Planning Studies, DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2021.1918647, April 2021.

Abstract: “Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in urban areas are increasingly relevant, with a consistent impact on various territories. This research explores the re-territorialization processes, contextualized by the post-Fordism era, in urban areas. The objective of this work is to verify a hypothesis assumed at the base of the research relating to the presence of a uniformity of orientation regarding the settlement determinants of companies that are co-located in specific areas of the cities. This hypothesis is tested in relation to various industrial sectors. The availability of these survey elements constitutes a useful driver of awareness to be then translated into specific actions in urban planning in terms of policies, services and infrastructures to be dedicated to these urban spaces characterized by clusters of firms. From a methodological point of view, the followed approach is based on two aspects relating both to a cartographic comparison and both to a statistical comparison between the answers provided by the service companies of different sectors of some European cities selected for the sample survey.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explaining technological innovation of the clustered firms:  Internal and relational factors

By: L. Martinez-Chafer, F. X. Molina-Morales, N. Roig-Tierno. Journal of Small Business Management, DOI: 10.1080/00472778.2021.1883035, April 2021.

Abstract: “The objective of this research is to investigate the combinations of internal and external factors that lead cluster companies to innovate. The study follows a complex causality approach using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) with a sample of 166 companies that belong to the Spanish ceramic tile cluster, differentiating between end product firms and specialized industrial firms. The results show how the two groups benefit from different factors when it comes to technological innovations. End product-focused firms benefit from vertical relationships with suppliers and the interaction with supporting organizations like universities, among others. Specialized industrial firms benefit, above all, from a high R&D investment.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Economic, technological and  sustainability-based qualifications with referenceto Europe: Iberia’s new metal  mining projects

By: L. de la Torre Palacios, J. A. Espi Rodriguez, P. Romero Martinez. Mineral Economics, DOI: 10.1007/s13563-021-00257-4, May 2021.

Abstract: “In Iberia, if current mining projects are grouped by their geographic and metallogenic characteristics, more important similarities appear among them. These refer to economic conditions, applied innovative technologies, environmental sustainability measures and circular economy patterns. The work uses indicators of these four dimensions to evaluate and qualify mining projects in progress and those still under development with sufficient guarantees of viability. The proposed methodology is oriented towards considering groupings of projects that present an appreciable dynamic towards an incipient or developing district “cluster”. The assessment (classification) refers to the degree of evolution achieved at present and the near future, which facilitates discussion of the conditions of each grouping. The most economically important base metal region, the Iberian Pyritic Belt (IPB), indicates positive conditions for a successful cluster according to the new methodology implemented. The other, formed by technological metal deposits, is still far from achieving this success.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Economic agglomeration and technical  efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises: evidence from Vietnam

By: H. T. Nguyen. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2021.1902600, 2021.

Abstract: “This article invests in analyzing the impact of economic agglomeration on the technical efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises: evidence from Vietnam. The stochastic frontier analysis and the general method of moments were employed to analyze data collected from the enterprise surveys of the General Statistics Office of Vietnam in the period 2013–2016. The research results show that technical efficiency and economic agglomeration tend to increase in Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, the economic agglomeration contributes positively to the increase in technical efficiency, while the upstream economic agglomeration has not made a clear contribution to the technical efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam. At the same time, factors such as cost management effectiveness, firm age, and export activities play an active role in improving technical efficiency for Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of the Cluster Components for Apiculture Products  and Honey in the Black Sea Region of Turkey

By: O. Teoman, O. Yeni. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İİBF Dergisi, DOI: 10.17153/oguiibf.541398, 2021.

Abstract: “Honey and other apicultural products have made a considerable progress in both production levels and value added in Turkey. We evaluated a clustering formation for the honey and apicultural products sector in the Black Sea Region of Turkey to develop a more efficient market framework. In our cluster, there is one center and three poles of the cluster: Beekeepers and exchange market in the center, supply providers, service providers and institutional support are in the poles. The central component of the cluster is the small family enterprises, which constitutes a significant part of the producers in the Black Sea Region. The other central part of the cluster; exchange market is expected to promote efficient price formation. The stakeholders of the supply providers are the input providers and food processing and by-product companies. The second pole of the cluster is composed of financial institutions and services, marketing services and tourism sector. Institutional support mechanisms are the last pole of the cluster and composed of public and private support.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]

Repeated collaboration of inventors across European regions

By: G. Toth, S. Juhasz, Z. Elekes, B. Lengyel. European Planning Studies, DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2021.1914555, April 2021.

Abstract: “This paper explores the spatial patterns and underlying determinants of repeated inventor collaboration across European NUTS 3 regions. It is found that only a small fraction of co-inventor linkages across regions are repeated, while community detection reveals that these collaborations are clustered in geographical space more intensively compared with collaboration in general. Additional results from gravity modelling indicate that links in the interregional co-inventor network emerge mainly through the triadic collaboration of regions, while geographical proximity becomes the most influential factor for repeating co-inventor ties. In addition to that, the combination of technological similarity and shared third partner regions offer a premium for the likelihood of repeating a collaboration, but only when geographical proximity is present as an enabler. Hence, repeated inter-regional co-inventor collaborations are more likely to revert to spatial clustering, contributing to the fragmentation of the European Research Area.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHORS]