Innovation Performance and Clusters: A Dynamic Capability Perspective on Regional Technology Clusters

Clusters form a cornerstone of the European Commission's innovation strategy. However, they are often not as innovative as expected. While strong quantitative insights into the resource base of successful clusters exist, evidence on soft success factors is anecdotal and dispersed across research streams. Nicole Röttmer sets out to identify and describe these capabilities, their impact on cluster innovativeness in the interplay with cluster resources and their development over time in a comprehensive, dynamic model. Across clusters, she illustrates the existence of dynamic capabilities in networks and their impact on cluster performance, providing an impetus for a change in cluster development policies and cluster management.