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U N I V E R S I T E D U L I T T O R A L - C O T E D 'O P A L E
L a b o r a t o i r e d e R e c h e r c h e s u r 1’I n d u s t r i e e t l ’I n n o v a l i o nREPORT ON THE THESIS OF IWONA ŻABIŃSKA
PROCESS OF TECHNOLOGICAL CLUSTER FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN POLAND AND FRANCE
Report written by
Dimitri UZUNIDIS, University of Littoral Cote d’0 p ale (France)
This thcsis presented by Iw ona Żabińska is co-directed by two supervisors from two universities: The Silesian U niversity o f Technology (Poland) and Ecole N ationale Superieure des M ines Saint-Etienne (France). The thesis counts 158 pages, taking into account the bibliography and the annexes. It has 13 chapters. The chapters 2 to 6 constitute the theoretical part o f the thesis (as the candidate announces it) and the chapters 7 to 13 form the empiricai part (observation, analysis, results).
The thesis is well written. The style, very straightforw ard, has certain sim ilarities with the one o f a report. The hypotheses, the critical points o f the analysis, the indicators and the results are succinctly presented. T he rcader has thus difFiculties to understand the reasoning o f the candidate as well as the em piricai and theoretical links o f the studied facts (see for example the motivations o f the cooperation betw een actors w ithin a cluster, p .2 1 and follow ing - or the phases o f the life cycle o f a cluster, p.25 and following, w ithout critical explanation and com plete reasoning).
The author uses references backed up by figures that are linked to a num bered bibliography. The dem onstrations and the links with the theory are not alw ays evident.
The author States that “ technological clustcrs, espcciaily high technology ones, play a significant role in the process o f stim ulating com petitiveness and innovativeness o f regions; this is the rcason why public authorities show great interest and engagem ent in creating and developing stnictures o f this kind” (p.10) (but, for what reasons? W ith which theoretical basis?). The principal subject o f the research is the analysis o f technological cluster formation and dcvciópm ent process in the reality o f Polish and French econom ics. The author m akes a panoram a o f clusters in these two countries and studies m ore particularly the French chem ical cluster « Axelera » in the Rhone-A lpes region and the « Green chem istry » chem ical cluster in
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L aboratoire R II - M R SH - 21, quai de la G tadelle B P 5528 59383 D U N K Ę R Q U E Cede.x 1 France u m v e r s i t ć d u L i t t o r a l T elćphone : 03.28.23.71.48 - Fax : 03.28.23.71.10 - e m a il: labrii@ univ-linoral.fr
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Zachodniopom orskie V oivodeship (W est Pom eranian V oivodeship). The choicc o f thcse clusters is due to a) their specialization in the high and m edium high technology (the author refers to OECD classification, in the annexes, w ithout explanation and criticism o f this classification) and b) the sim ilarity o f industries that are located within the clustcr.
In this thesis, the author trics to answ er to four questions: 1) Wliat is a technological cluster?
2) I-Iow are technological clusters in Poland and in France concentrated?
3) Wliat stages and activities are involved in the process o f technological cluster formation and developm ent?
4) W hich factors have a decisive influence on the form ation and the developm ent o f technological clusters?
The candidate proposes on the one hand different quantitative m ethods o f studics and o f analysis o f clusters, how ever because o f a lack o f data, she led an enquiry with a questionnaire adm inistrated to the enterprises and the institutions located in the two clusters. On the other hand, the secondary data came from internal sources such as the following: data from statistical offices, data from govem m ent adm inistration authorities (including information from the Internet), Internet information published by the analysed clusters, prom otional m atcrials from technological clusters, studies and publications listed in the bibliography.
The research leads the author to the following statements: “The ‘G reen C hem istry’ Chemical cluster from Z achodniopom orskie V oivodeship has a typical structure o f a local m ainly made up o f smali and m edium enterprises. The m ajority o f enterprises w ithin the group are Polish- owned. In term s o f com petitiveness the cluster holds an average local position” (p. 110). Then, there is a list o f liniits that show that this cluster is in an em bryonic phase. The author recom m cnds different rnore elear objectives, m ore deve!oped system ie links, better enhanced knowledge, etc. The State (?) should then inteiwene to im pose directly or indirectly clu sterisation...
Dealing with the Axelera cluster in France, this one « operates on an intem ational levcl and has a strong com petitive position in France. The cluster is made up o f a com bination o f dom estic and foreign firms. The large num ber o f enterprises indicates that the cluster has achieved its critical m a s s ...” . This author recom m ends to develop the attractiveness o f clusters and to facilitate technology transfers. She also recom m ends fighting bureaucratic barriers (pp. 112 and following). Then, how to com bine the developm ent o f clusters in France or in Poland with less State intervention?
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Laboratoire RII - M R S H - 21, quai de la Gtadelle BP 5528 59383 D U N K E R Q U E Ccdex 1 France U ni v e r s i te d u Li t t o m l Telephone : 03.28.23.71.48 - Fax : 03.28.23.71.10 - em a il: labni@tiniv-liuoral.fr
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U N I Y E R S I T E D U L I T T O R A L - C Ó T E D 'O P A L E
L a b o r a to ir e de R e c h e r c h e su r 1’I n d u s t r ie e t l ’I n n o v a t i o nI . A I l O K A T O I l t K l i l l
The problem o f this thesis lies in thc lack o f thorough theorctical analysis. T he author defines the clustcr in relation with two attributes: « geograpliical proxim ity o f connected entreprises opcrating in related sectors; interactions and horizontal and vertical interconnections bctwecn firms and pnblic and scientific research institutions” (p. 18). The m ain author used in this thesis to discuss the issue o f clusters is M. Porter. Is it sufficient? The naturę o f tlie actors and o f their productive, financial and com m ercial relations or tlie role o f the state and o f local public authorities require com plem entary and thorough analysis.
The notions o f “clusters” and “innovation clusters” (or “innovation netw orks”) are far from being unified and grounded in solid analytical fram eworks. Also, som e kcy issucs related to the clusters’ spatial/geographical scaiing and to the naturę and the form s o f acto rs’ interaction within innovation clusters (and networks) are still pending though w idely debated in the literaturę. M oreover, one can only but recognizes that, all by large, our com prehension o f the m echanism s underlying the dynam ics o f em crgence, structuring and evolution o f innovation clustering and netw orking phenom ena rests 011 partial, fragm ented and rather fragile theoretical and analytical grounds. M y conviction is that it is only through these efforts towards better analytical grounding and strong interdisciplinaiy integration that social scientists m ay be able to prove that clustering and netw orking processes are neither illusions nor m ysterious phenom ena, but rather constitute real structuring forces o f innovation dynam ics within and across creativc spaces.
A cluster, as an innovation system , describes the relationships (scientific, technological, industrial, com m ercial, financial, political) betw een private and public institutions (enteiprises, research and engineering labs, adm inistrations...). In generał, the relationships consist o f financial and inform ation flows and the m ovem ent o f persons. The puipose o f that system is to produce innovations (new organizations, new goods and processes, ncw resources, new com binations o f productive resources). This system facilitates business creation on the local level and contributes to definc tlie com petitive advantage o f the whole and its m em bers. The role o f the State and o f local public authorities should be better understood: how does the fiscal policy, the attractiveness policy or the industrial and innovation policy could creatc the system ie and changing relations between actors and potential insiders? How do the m echanism s o f selection and inter-industria! links develop within a cluster (or before its em ergence)? W liat are the m ost pertinent governance m ethods? The system ie naturę o f the relationships that characterize an econom ic and social milieu makes it possible to identify w hat contributes (or not) to the clustering o f activities (and o f innovation).
W e suggest to the author a 11011 cxhaustive list o f publications that could be useful to continuc her research 011 this subject:
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Laboratoire RII - M R S H - 21, quai de la Gtadellc BP 5528 59383 D U N K E R Q U E Cedex 1 France Telephone : 03.28.23.71,48 - F a x : 03.28.23.71.10 - em a il: labrii@univ-liuoraI.fr
\\ i 1 .WTKiir. lwu] r / / \ \ i !i,v.\oy.(i/ii.\ V y I . A H O l i A T O I I U : K I I L a b o r a t o i r e de R e c h e r c h e s u r 1’I n d u s t r i e e t I ’I n n o v a t i o n l i i i w r c i h - d u ( . i l l i i r a i
Ahuja G. (2000) Collaboration netw orks, structura! holes and innovation: A longitudinal study. Administrative Science Quarterly, 45 (3): 425-455.
and the A nchor Hypolhesis. Industry andInnovation, 10 (3): 311-328.
Audretsch D., Feldm an, M. (1996) K now ledge spiilovers and the geography o f innovation and production. American Economic Review, 86 (3): 630-640.
August.
Baptista R., Sw ann, P. (1998) Do fin n s in clusters innovate m ore? Research Policy, 27: 525-
540.
Beccatini G. (1990) The M arshallian Tndustrial District as a Socio-econom ic Notion. In Beccatini G., Pyke F. and Sengenberger W. (Eds.), Indusirial Districts and Inter-firm Co- operation in Italy. Geneva: International Institute for Labour Studies.
Bekele G. W., Jackson R. W . (2006) Theorctical Perspcctives on Industry Clusters. Regional Research Institute, Research Paper 2006-5, W est Virginia U niversity, 26 p.
Bresnahan T., G am bardclla A., Saxenian A. (2002) Old Econom y’ Inputs for ‘N ew Econom y’ Outcomes: C luster Form ation in the N ew Silicon Yalleys. DRUID Sum m er Conference on "IndustrieI Dynamics in the N ew and Old Econom y- Who is Embracing Witom”,
Copenhagen / Elsinore, 6-8 June, 31 p.
Casper S. (2007) H ow do technology clusters emerge and becom e sustainable? Social network form ation and inter-firm m obility w ithin the San D iego biotechnology cluster.
Research Policy, 36: 438-455.
Casper S., M urray F. (2005) Careers and Clusters: A nalyzing the C areer N etw ork Dynam ie o f B iotechnology Clusters. Journal o f Engineering and Technology M anagement, 22: 51-74.
Castilla E., H w ang H., G ranovetter E., G ranovetter M. (2000) Social N etw orks in Silicon Valley. In C.
Chiaroni D., Chiesa V. (2006) Form s o f Creation o f Industrial C lusters in Biotechnology.
Technovation, 26: 1064-1076.
Cookc P. (2002) Biotechnology Clusters as R egional/Sectoral lnnovation Systems.
International Regional Science Review, 25 (1): 8-37.
Den Hcrtog P., Roelandt T. J. A. (1999) C luster analysis and cluster-based policy making: the State o f the art. In T. J. A. Roelandt and P. den H ertog (Eds.), Cluster Analysis and Cluster- based Policy: New Perspectives and Rationale in Innovation Policy, Paris: OECD.
Eto H. (2005) O bstacles to em ergence o f high/new technology parks, ventures and clusters in Japan. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 72: 359-373.
Feldman M. P. (1999) The N ew Econom ics o f Innovation, Spillovers and A gglom eration: A Review o fE m p irical Studies. Economics oflnnovation and New Technology\ 8: 5-25.
Feldman M. P. (2003) The Locational D ynam ics o f the US B iotech Industry: Knowledge External ities
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Laboratoire RII - M R S H - 21, quai de la Citadelle BP 5528 59383 D U N K E R Q U E Cedex 1 France Telephone : 03,28.23.71.48 - F a x : 03.28.23.71.10 - e m a il: labrii@univ-littoral.fr
U N I Y E R S I T E D U L I T T O R A L - C Ó T E D 'O P A L E
L a b o r a to ir e de R e c h e r c h e sur 1’I n d u s t r ie e t l T n n o v a t io nI . A I l O l t A T O I K K K I I
Gordon I. R., M cCann P. (2005) Innovation, agglom eration, and rcgional development. Journal o f Economic Geography, 5: 523-543.
Ketels C., Sovell Ó. (2006) Clusters in the EU-JO new memher countries. Report, Europę
INNOVA
M arshall A. (1903) Eleinents o f Economics o f Industty (First Volum e o f Elements o f Econoniics), Third Edition (First Edition: 1892), London: M acm illan and Co., Limited.
M artin R., Sunley P. (2006) Path dependence and regional econom ic evolution. Journal o f Economic Geography, 6: 395-437.
M artin, R., Sunley, P. (2003) Deconstructing clusters: chaotic concept o r policy panacea?
Journal o f Economic Geography, 3: 5-35.
M oon-Lee, W. F. M iller, M. C ong H ancock and H.S. Rowen (Eds.), The Silicon VaUey Edge,
Stanford: Stanford U niversity Press, 218-247.
Nooteboom B. (2004) Innovation, Learning and Cluster Dynam ics. D iscussion Paper No 44, Tilburg U niversity, A pril, 24 p.
OECD (1999) Doosting Innovation: The Cluster Approach, Paris: OECD.
OECD (2001) Innovative Clusters: Drivers o f National Innovation Systems, Paris: OECD.
OECD (2007), Competitive Regional Clusters. National Policy Approaches, Paris: OECD.
Passiantc G., Sccundo G. (2002) From Geographical lnnovation C lusters to Yirtual Innovation Clusters: The Innovation Virtual System. ERSA Conference 2002, Dortmund, 27-
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PreissI B., Solim cne L. (2003) The Dynamics o f Clusters and Innovation. Heidelberg and
New York: Physisca-V crlag.
Prevezer M. (1997) The D ynam ics o f Industrial Clustering in B iotechnology. Smal! Business Economics, 9: 255-271.
Rallet A., Torre A. (2001) Proxim ite geographiąue ou proxim ite organisationnelle ? Une analyse spatiale des cooperations technologiąues dans les reseaux localises d ’innovation.
Economic Appliąuee, L1V (1): 147-171.
Rallet A., T orre A. (Eds.) (1995) Economie industrielle et economic spatiale. Bibliotheąue de
Science Regionale, Paris: Econom ica.
Rallet A., Torre A. (Eds.) (2007) Que!lesproximites pour innover ?, Paris: L ’Harm attan.
Romanelli E., Klicssina O. M. (2005) Regional Industrial Identity: C luster C onfiguration and Econom ic D evelopm ent. Organization Science, 16(4): 344-358.
Saxenian A. (1994) Regional advantage. Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128. Cam bridge (M A): Harvard U niversity Press.
Saxenian A. (1999) The Silicon Valley-H sinchu Connection: Technical C om m unities and Industrial U pgrading. M im eo, U niversity o f California at Berkeley, 27 Septem bcr, 34 p. Saxenian A. (2006) The New Argonauts: Regional Advantage in a Global Economy.
Cam bridge (M A): H arvard U niversity Press.
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U ni v e r s i t £ d u L i 11o r a I
Laboratoire RII - MRSH - 21, quai de la Gtadelle BP 5528 59383 D U N K Ę R Q U E Cedex 1 France Telephone : 03.28.23.71.48 - F a x : 03.28.23,71.10 - e m a il: labrii@univ-litToraI.fr
L a b o r a to ir e de R e c lie r c h e s u r P l n d u s t r i e e t l ’I n n o v a t io n
I . A 1I O K A T O I H K U l i
Scott A. (2004) A Perspective o f econom ic geography. Journal o f Econoinic Geography, 4:
479-499.
Scott A. (2006) Entrepreneurship, lnnovation, and Industriai D evclopm ent: G eography and the Creative Field R evisited. Smali Business Economics, 26: 1-24.
Despite the fact that the thesis suffers front a lack o f solid theoretical basis and that the analysis is not sufficiently developed, the results sccm satisfying (even if the m echanism s o f cluster developm ent are not well studied, cf. evolutionary econom ics). Thus, we can say that the candidate achieves the aim o f resolving a scientific problem . H ow ever the candidate’s kttowledge in the scientific o f m anagem ent (o f clusters) should be dcveloped. The thesis can be presented but the author needs to continue her research, relying on the theory o f the system s o f governance on the one hand and on geographical analysis on the other hand.
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U n i v e r s i t ć d t i L i t t o r a l
Laboratoire RI1 - M R S H - 21, quai de la Gtndelle BP 5528 59383 DLJNKERQUE Cedex 1 France Telephone : 03.28.23.71.48 - Fax ; 03.28.23.71.10 - em a il: labrii@univ-littoral.fr
U N I Y E R S I T E D U L I T T O R A L - C Ó T E D ’O P A L E
L a b o r a t o i r e d e R e c h e r c h e su r 1’I n d u s t r i e et l’ I n n o v a t i o nL A B O R A T O IR E R U
v 'YfcC
A D D IT IO N A L R EPO R T ON THE THESIS OF IW O N A ŻABIŃSKA
(March 22, 2011)
PR OC ESS OF T E C H N O L O G IC A L C LU ST ER FO RM A T IO N A ND D EVELO PM EN T IN PO LA N D A N D FRANCE
Report written by
Dimitri UZUNIDIS, University o f Littoral Cóte d ’OpaIe (France)
T h e fo llo w in g report is a su p p le m e n t to th e rep o rt on the thesis o f M s Ż A B IŃ S K A , that I sent in Ju ly 2 0 10 . In m y rep o rt I p ut th e e m p h a sis on structural p ro b le m s o f th e thesis and on its th eo retical w eakness. T h e c a n d id a te has tried to im prove h e r thesis b y referrin g m ore often to th eo re tic al ad v an ces and to th e e c o n o m ic an aly sis on the clusters. T h is effort w as em bodied esse n tia lly in th e sectio n on th e o rig in s and on th e p rinciples o f c lu ste r th eory (pp. 13-43) and pp. 74-77. T h e can d id a te has also p u t forw ard a list o f re c o m m e n d a tio n s for an efficient p o lic y re g a rd in g clu sters (pp. 5 1-57). T h is effort seem s in te restin g and show s that the c a n d id a te has tried to b e tte r u n d erstan d the in teractiv e natu rę o f th e actors o f th e inn ov ativ e m ilieu . S h e also tried to b e tte r d e fin e its field o f stud y (the d iffe re n t clu sters in F rance and
H o w e v e r a sp e cia list in th is to p ie c a n n o t b e c o m p le te ly satisfied b y th e analysis o f the author. T h e a u th o r used som e good refe re n c e s th at w e re n o t hig h lig h ted in p articu lar reg ard in g the ev o lu tio n o f clu sters and in n o v atio n p o licies. T h e au tho r g iv es us th e im p ressio n that she a d o p ts th e th e o ry o f th e life c y cle o f c lu sters u n c ritic a lly and w ith ou t refe re n c e to the renew al
o rg a n iz atio n s. T h e p ro b lem w ith th is th esis is that the a u th o r d o es n o t fo llow a sy n ergistic
th is reg a rd , and d e sp ite th e ad v an ces, I am q u ite critical o f th is th esis. H o w ever, th e data p rese n ted an d the rele v an c e o f th e refe re n c e s show that the ju r y sho uld en co u ra g e M s Ż A B IŃ S K A fo r fu rth er w ork th ereafter. I g iv e a favorab le o p in io n to the presen tatio n d esp ite m y m a n y q u e stio n s and d o u b ts ab o u t the actu al co n trib u tio n o f this research.
P o lan d).
o f “ o ld a c tiv itie s” th ro u g h a c o m b in a tio n o f d ifferent tec h n o lo g ie s an d new industrial
ap p ro a c h to sh o w the lim ita tio n s o f c lu ste rin g and the p arad oxes o f th e “lin e a r” theories. In
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U n i v e r s i t e d u L i t t o r a l
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Laboratoire RII - M R SH - 21, quai de la Ciradelle BP 5528 59383 D U N K E R Q U E C edex 1 France T elep h on e : 03.28.23.71.48 - Fax : 03.28.23.71.10 — e m a il: labrii@univ-littoral.fr
