From economic view as networks of producer, suppliers, research establishments know cluster (e.g. Universities), Dienstleistern (e.g. Design and engineer's office) and connected institutions (e.g. Chambers of Commerce) with a certain regional proximity to be defined to each other, those over common exchange relations along a creation of value chain (e.g. Automobile production) to be formed. The members stand thereby over supply or competition relations or common interests with one another in relationship. A historically grown cluster is e.g. the concentration of the American automobile industry into and around Detroit, the silicone Valley or in Germany the automobile industry in bathing and/or Swabia.

One speaks only of a cluster if a critical mass of companies is to each other in spatial proximity, their activities itself along one or several creation of value chains supplement or are related with one another. Only on this condition a growth pole can develop, which tightens also suppliers and specialized Dienstleister and creates competition advantages for all companies involved.

These competition advantages are usually based on thing in common, improved division of labor and between the companies and institutions involved. Thing in common exists e.g. with the common interest in locally available personnel and its qualification. An improved division of labor becomes possible by concentration of the individual companies on their core authority with paging of secondary functions on suppliers. Crucially for the increased innovation strength of a cluster is however the extent of the implicit, competition-relevant knowledge, which is distributed between the participants. Over informal contacts and job rotation is exchanged and creates so new, innovative application possibilities.

In the promotion of economy development the structure is understood about Clustern as active promotion of innovation. On the basis of an analysis of the creation of value chain concerned in the regional context the potential of the structure and the promotion of a certain cluster can be measured and a cluster management be used. Usually the union from politics, administration, research, education and economics serves to promote the economic activity and innovation in the region and to obtain a shaping the region. Examples of such cluster initiatives are the AC Styria (automobile supplier) and the upper-Austrian automobile cluster (AC).

Literature

The modern cluster theory was prepared by the US-American scientist Michael E. Porter.

• Porter, Michael E. (1990): The Competitive Advantage OF nation. The Free press, New York

• Porter, Michael E. (2000): Locations, cluster and company Strategy. In: Clark, G.L. ; Feldman, M.P and Gertler, M.S. (Hrsg.): The Oxford Handbook OF Economic Geography. New York, P. 253-274.

• Burner, Th. /Fornahl, Dirk: Theoretical findings for the emergence and production industry-specific cluster, Jena 2003

• Sautter, B. (2004): Regional cluster - concept, analysis and strategy for promotion of economy development. In: Location - magazine for applied geography, (28) 2, S.66-72.

Left

Industrial cluster - the computer production in the USA and Taiwan by the example silicone of the Valley and the Hsinchu Science based Industrial park. (2003)

• http://www.joejoe.de/geo/Clusters%20in%20International%20Comparison.pdf

Projects - The cluster initiative Greenbook 2003, world-wide over 500 cluster identifies

• http://www.ivorytower.se/eng/projgrnbk.htm

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