Title: Industrial policy for 'new' industries in 'old' Europe: virtual cluster in genetics in Italy

Authors: Marco R. Di Tommaso, Lauretta Rubini

Addresses: Facolta di Economia, Universita di Ferrara, Via Voltapaletto, 11, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. ' Facolta di Economia, Universita di Ferrara, Via Voltapaletto, 11, 44100 Ferrara, Italy

Abstract: Many European countries are facing new competitive pressures by countries such as China or India. In this context, Italy seems to be squeezed between these new competitors specialised on traditional sectors and the difficulties of entering new high tech industries. This paper focuses on the strategic industrial policy options that Italy may have to guarantee its future capacity of producing wealth by participating in the transnational value chain, without being progressively marginalised. With this premise, we present the case of the genetic research sector in the Emilia Romagna region (Italy). We focus on this sector firstly because of the great potentialities it has recently been showing; secondly because its development could be an example of how to encourage the structural adjustment of an |Old Europe| region looking for answers to new international challenges; thirdly because the region has a latent knowledge pool in genetics that does not seem to be properly exploited.

Keywords: virtual clusters; genetics; industrial policy; industry; manufacturing; Italy; genetic research; industrial clusters; transnational value chain; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2007.013520

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.8 No.5, pp.503 - 521

Published online: 03 May 2007 *

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