clusters

The report suggests that sustainable business clusters have great potential - they can deliver the existing benefits of business clusters - competitiveness and innovation – as well as wider social, economic and environmental benefits. The authors provide 10 steps or suggestions for implementing sustainable business clusters in the regions.

The report investigates whether business clusters could be used as a delivery mechanism for sustainable development through examining the evidence for sustainable clusters within the United Kingdom. The authors contend that business clusters are already being promoted within the regions and could easily be used as a delivery mechanism for sustainable development.

The paper compares attributes of the Calgary wireless cluster in the case study with traditional models in the literature. Dominant thinking about clusters suggests that they operate in a closed system.

The report argues the withdrawal of significant government support, which is attributed to the change of provincial government in April 2003, is an important element of uncertainty that has plagued the multimedia sector since the technological bubble burst in October 2000.

The paper argues that some of the mechanisms that enable a cluster to flourish are present among new media firms in BC, however, it is not clear whether or not they are sufficient. The author examines the new media firms and historical background of clusters to conclude the findings.

The paper examines the mining community of Sudbury, describing the early evolution of “cluster consciousness.”

The paper uses the Vancouver New Media industry to explore key dynamics behind the formation of social capital. Understanding the roles of civic and professional associations as contributors to social capital within the new media cluster are specifically focused on.

The paper attempts to synthesize the lessons learned from the study of the information and communications technologies industry in six regions across Canada. The analysis is based primarily on data communicated through papers, conference presentations, and personal correspondence.

The paper reports findings from a 2002 survey by the Wireless Association of British Columbia in which most interviewees report that their most important innovations in the last three years represent “world firsts”. Those interviewed responded that the main issue for the future is how well the Vancouver industry can function as a cluster without the anchor of a firm comparable to the three founding firms of global reach.

The paper explores aspects of clusters in relation to what can be done with the knowledge learned from cluster functions and if the competitive advantages afforded by existing cluster assets be extended to additional sectors.