The notion of clustering, is generally accepted to have been introduced by Harvard economist, Michael Porter, in his (1990)
book ‘The Competitive Advantage of Nations’, and builds on earlier work in the field of industrial geography, economic
geography, and earlier work by Alfred Marshall (1890) and Paul Krugman (1991).
The development of new clusters exists at a juncture between industrial, regional and technology policy.
The creation of clusters is being used as tool for regional development, as a means of stimulating new Types of Cluster:
economic growth and as a device for developing new technologies to the stage of commercialisation.
Industrial However, there is evidence to suggest that a one-size fits all approach to cluster development.
Policy •Geographical Cluster
According to Porter, competition within a cluster benefits in three ways: Organisations Concentrated In a Region.
•The productivity of companies within the cluster is increased •Sectoral Cluster
•New businesses in the field are stimulated Organisations Within The Same Commercial Sector.
Regional •Innovation within the field is encouraged and fostered •Horizontal Cluster
Technology Knowledge Management / Business Interconnection.
Policy Policy
•Vertical Cluster
Paytas, J., Gradek, R., & Andrews, L., (2005) ‘Aligning Universities and Industry Clusters’ Supply Chain Integration
The Heinz School Review, Volume 2, Issue I.
• Vehicle Manufacturers
OEM
The development of hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles, will result in the creation of new supply chains, component suppliers and research and • Key Suppliers
development hubs within the automotive industry. Emergent clusters of industry may spontaneously form around centres of research and
development activity, or a cluster may be ‘artificially created’ by investment to stimulate regional growth and development.
Tier 1 • Systems
• Modules
• Component Suppliers
Original Equipment Manufacturers of vehicles, at the top of the pyramid, are supported by a broad base of different suppliers.
These in turn are supported by a plethora of component suppliers and materials suppliers. In the emergent hydrogen and fuel
Tier 2 • Components
• Sub-Systems
cell automotive industry, suppliers may be characterised by producing exotic materials for fuel cell manufacture, not • Materials
traditionally found in the automotive industry; or supplying components made by new processes and using new techniques. Tier n • Semi-Finished
• Standard Parts
The dynamics of the organisations supplying these components for the new industries, the establishments supporting research and development activity to facilitate creation of these new
components, and the interaction between the various suppliers, manufacturers and service providers in this new industry has received relatively little attention.
There are comparable studies of other high-technology clusters, which will be used to inform the research and build an understanding of what factors influence cluster development.
In addition, the study will be informed by an cross-examination of clusters at different stages of maturity; comparing the Californian Fuel Cell cluster with activity in the UK, to ascertain
differences in legislative, political, social and economic approaches to cluster development.
Differences in legislation and political priority will be examined
in both the UK and California, to give an orientation to the
socio-political environment in which regional clusters exist.
Whilst market and growth oriented firms can drive innovation
in a region, providing industry push, there must also be sufficient
local demand or sensitivity to external demand to provide
innovation pull. The factors affecting this pull will be compared.
Paytas, J., Gradek, R., & Andrews, L., (2005) ‘Aligning Universities and Industry Clusters’
The Heinz School Review, Volume 2, Issue I.
One of the areas of study will examine different attitudes
to research and development activity – critically analysing
the interface between business and universities.
Cluster Is University &
Cluster Are
A number of fuel cell ventures have resulted from
Dominant:
Focus on Building
Aligned: knowledge transfer partnerships between business and
Focus on efficiency
Research and and Knowledge- academia and spin-off university ventures. The study will
About the Researcher: [Link] Development Transfer
examine differences between how the relationship
Gavin D. J. Harper holds a Diploma in Design and Innovation, the between the university and company can be characterised.
Diploma of Vilnius University a BSc. (Hons.) Technology and an MSc.
Architecture: Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies. Limited University Is
He is author of a number of books, including Fuel Cell Projects for Foundation: Dominant: The study will also examine other factors affecting the
the Evil Genius, available from Mc Graw Hill, New York. Focus on “All or Focus on Cluster success and prosperity of clusters; taking lessons from
Nothing” Development
He writes for a number of magazines and blogs, and is a different regional examples, and looking at how they can
. regular contributor to Green Building Magazine and the be applied in the context of fuel cell commercialisation.
sustainable technology blog [Link].
The research will examine the extent
to which fuel cell spin-offs are
embedded within universities in
different local and institutional
contexts, and to what extent
this affects the autonomy and
productivity of the enterprise.
Matkin, G (1999) ‘Spinning off in the U.S.’
Accessed Online:
[Link]
Research Supported Under Economic & Social Research Council 3+1 Studentship The ESRC Centre for
Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society
Supervisory Team: Dr. Peter Wells, Dr. Paul Nieuwenhuis & Prof. Ken Peattie
(B.R.A.S.S) Telephone
Cardiff University +44 (0) 2920 876 562
55 Park Place, Fax:
Cardiff, +44 (0) 2920 876 061
CF10 3AT, Email:
Wales, harpergd@[Link]