With or Without Clusters: Facilitating Innovation through a Differentiated and Combined Network Approach

Evert‐Jan Visser, Oedzge Atzema · 2008 · European Planning Studies

Summary. European regions need not rely on cluster policies to drive innovation. Instead, a differentiated network approach combining global pipelines, local buzz, and standalone firm strategies proves more efficient, especially in non-cluster regions. Private and semi-public brokers mediate between these strategies, requiring region-specific knowledge of sectors, institutions, and culture. Public policy should recruit brokers, fund startups, and monitor performance within decentralized, multi-level innovation systems tailored to local conditions.

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Visser, E., & Atzema, O.. (2008). With or Without Clusters: Facilitating Innovation through a Differentiated and Combined Network Approach. European Planning Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310802401573

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  title   = {With or Without Clusters: Facilitating Innovation through a Differentiated and Combined Network Approach},
  author  = {Evert‐Jan Visser and Oedzge Atzema},
  journal = {European Planning Studies},
  year    = {2008},
  doi     = {10.1080/09654310802401573},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310802401573}
}

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AU  - Evert‐Jan Visser
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Details

DOI: 10.1080/09654310802401573
Countries: Netherlands
Regions: Europe
Categories: regional-innovation-systems, policy, innovation-networks, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28