Title: Network-centrality versus network-position in regional networks: what matters most? – a study of a French high-tech cluster

Authors: Christian Lechner, Christophe Leyronas

Addresses: ESC Toulouse, Research Center for Entrepreneurship and Growth Strategies, 20, Bd. Lacrosses, Toulouse Cedex 31068, France. ' ESC Toulouse, Research Center for Entrepreneurship and Growth Strategies, 20, Bd. Lacrosses, Toulouse Cedex 31068, France

Abstract: This research is concerned with the role of regional inter-firm networks and the position of a firm within a regional inter-firm network for entrepreneurial firm performance. Our results confirm that regional network size is a rough explanatory variable of firm performance, but it is one that hides more important network properties. More important than network size are favourable network positions such as structural holes. It seems that for entrepreneurial firms it is more important to build strong network positions by developing exclusive alliance networks instead of simply collaborating with the greatest number of firms within the region. The implications are important for both entrepreneurs in high-tech clusters as well as for policy-makers promoting cluster development.

Keywords: inter-firm networks; regional clusters; firm performance; network structure; high-tech clusters; France; entrepreneurship; technoentrepreneurship; alliance networks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTE.2007.013271

International Journal of Technoentrepreneurship, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.78 - 91

Published online: 19 Apr 2007 *

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