Like Phoenix from the Ashes? The Renewal of Clusters in Old Industrial Areas

Abstract

Many cluster studies have focused on growth regions and industries covering only the early phases of cluster development. Little attention, however, has been paid to the renewal of clusters in old industrial regions. The aim of the paper is to address the question of how clusters renew themselves in such regions and how they adjust to changes in their environment. After identifying relevant factors from the literature, a comparison is made of the renewal of the automotive and the metal clusters in the old industrial region of Styria. The paper investigates and analyses the different development paths. Critical factors of cluster renewal turn out to be a well developed regional innovation system, the establishment of new innovation networks and new and more indirect forms of policy approach.