| Abstract: |
The aim of this article was to investigate how far clusters in
knowledge-intensive service industries have developed and what kind of
agglomeration advantages they generate. Therefore the first step was to
analyse which knowledge-intensive service industries exhibit spatial
concentration. Based on this analysis, the absolute as well as the relative
concentrations in these industries was examined at the NUTS 3 level. The
results show that cluster structures have developed in some but not all
knowledge-intensive industries of the service sector. A high measure of
spatial concentration does not necessarily mean that a cluster exists, since
especially in less urban region high localisation quotients are frequently
ascribed to either one company or only a small number of companies. The
knowledge-intensive services with cluster structures differ with regard to
external effects, each of which becomes important: a highly qualified labour
pool is by definition important for all knowledge-intensive industries of the
service sector and fundamental for the existence of cluster structures in each
of the examined services. Nevertheless there are however crucial differences
regarding the significance of further external effects. Porter-externalities
do not appear to stimulate competiveness in any of the examined industries of
the service industry. However, none of the available studies explicitly
examined the aspect of competition. Thus the interplay of agglomeration
advantages needs to be researched further. The type of knowledge and the
market environment should also be regarded as important factors (Orsenigo
2006: 201). Contact to local suppliers and customers in industries that are
characterized by project work, such as the film and television industry or the
media, are particularly important. Supporting clusters and networks is
currently fashionable and is practised by different actors. The results show
that cluster and network policies have to be focussed on the field of
activity. It seems in any case sensible to expand the knowledge and education
infrastructure in knowledge-intensive services which do not have cluster
structures. The spatial proximity of actors in the innovation process or of
suppliers and customers is not always advantageous. Too strong a focus on
spatially concentrated exchange processes, leading to an isolation from global
trends, can prove to have negative effects in the long term. In this respect
the great importance of a qualified labour pool provides a starting point for
policy measures that could also be useful for other fields of activity. This
includes the development and financing of (partially specialised) educational
institutions or measures. The appeal of the surroundings is also important to
tie highly qualified staff to a region, as the discussion on a creative class
(Florida 2002; 2005) also shows. While factors such as urbanity can hardly be
influenced politically, there are certain initiatives regions can adopt to
compensate for the lack of attractiveness. In regions where companies find it
difficult to attract qualified staff from other regions higher education
institutions are important sources of qualified staff. Therefore increasing
the attractiveness of higher education institutions and of relevant study
programmes are a first starting point. Likewise, the example of ITsax shows
how companies can cooperate successfully in the area of recruitment.
Furthermore, the provision of childcare facilities or international schools is
important for the creation of attractive conditions particularly for women and
/ or international employees. -- |