Title: The role of cluster facilitators

Authors: Mads Bruun Ingstrup

Addresses: Department of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management, University of Southern Denmark, Engstien 1, 6000 Kolding, Denmark

Abstract: Clusters are everywhere. Companies join clusters in order to profit from a number of benefits. However, these benefits do not come spontaneously. It takes time to build the platform and trust necessary to foster these advantages, and in this process, the cluster facilitator plays an important role. This paper shows that the role of cluster facilitators is highly neglected in cluster and management literature and that there is no existing framework for describing and analysing this particular role. At worst, this can lead to incorrect, simple generalisations regarding cluster facilitators and the context in which they act. Based on a literature review and a case study, the purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for identifying and categorising the specific role of cluster facilitators.

Keywords: cluster facilitators; industry clusters; trust; actors; activity; resources; benefits.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSB.2010.035329

International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business, 2010 Vol.4 No.1, pp.25 - 40

Published online: 21 Sep 2010 *

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