ISRN Series
| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
Global Networks and Local Linkages: The Paradox of Cluster Development in an Open Economy (2005)
David A Wolfe and Matthew Lucas, Eds
This volume presents the final case studies in the Innovation Systems Research Network’s five-year investigation of 26 industry clusters across Canada and it offers a preliminary cluster typology that accounts for fundamental differences in institutional linkages, knowledge dimensions, and stages of cluster growth. It describes clusters in regions as diverse as Toronto, Sudbury, and the Okanagan Valley and in industries as varied as biotechnology, took and die making, and mining services. The case studies exhibit an important similarity in their detailed attention to the role of early historical events in shaping each cluster’s mix of public/private actors, internal/external linkages, and its ability to adjust to internal and external market challenges.
Clusters in a Cold Climate: Innovation Dynamics in a Diverse Economy (2004)
David A Wolfe and Matthew Lucas, Eds.
As Canada emerges from the recent economic downturn, both established and emerging industrial clusters face the challenges of meeting rapidly changing demand and cost conditions and increasing national and international competition and financing an accelerating pace of innovation. Clusters in a Cold Climate examines how eight industry clusters across Canada influence the innovative dynamics of their constituent firms by helping them access resources and markets, manage economic uncertainty, and adapt to market changes. Contributors underline a number of key themes: the contribution of both local and global sources of knowledge to innovation within the clusters, the powerful role of external markets in stimulating innovative behaviour, the interaction between key elements of the research infrastructure and innovative firms, and the complex but essential role that various aspects of public policy play in influencing cluster dynamics.
Clusters Old and New: The Transition to a Knowledge Economy in Canada's Regions (2003)
David A Wolfe, Ed.
In recent years there has been a virtual explosion of interest in cluster development across North America, Europe, and newly industrialized countries. This interest has been prompted by fascination with the success of Silicon Valley at reinventing itself through successive waves of technology innovation and claims by a growing number of imitators to have replicated the conditions for its success. A growing number of clusters around the globe, from Scotland to Bangalore and from Singapore to Israel, all claim direct lineage to the original model in northern California. Clusters Old and New presents the initial results of a study into the formation and growth of industry clusters across Canada. The authors suggest that the process of cluster formation is complex and may extend over decades. While public policy plays a critical role in supporting the establishment and growth of clusters, the range of factors that contribute to their success is quite varied. The authors provide a basis for beginning to understand the process of cluster formation from an evolutionary perspective, as well as some criteria for determining the presence or absence of true cluster dynamics in the cases under investigation.
Knowledge, Clusters and Regional Innovation: Economic Development in Canada (2002)
J Adam Holbrook and David A Wolfe, Eds
Innovation is increasingly recognized as the key to successful competition in the global knowledge-based economy. In Knowledge, Clusters and Regional Innovation the authors illuminate the highly differentiated nature of the innovation systems found across the country and demonstrate that innovation can occur in a wide range of sectors and clusters, ranging from multimedia and biotechnology in large metropolitan areas to more traditional sectors such as wood products in rural settings.
Innovation, Institutions and Territory: Regional Innovation Systems in Canada (2000)
J Adam Holbrook and David A Wolfe, Eds.
Innovation, Institutions and Territory explores the influence of regional culture and institutions on innovation in Canada. The authors begin with a discussion of conceptual issues underlying analysis of the innovation process in a regional setting and then turn to an examination of Canada's research infrastructure, a factor that strongly influences the innovative potential of regions across the country. Finally, case studies focusing on Quebec and British Columbia provide a detailed picture of the strengths and gaps of individual regional innovation systems.
