Title: How to turn public networks into clubs? The challenge of being a cluster manager

Authors: Carola Jungwirth, Daniel Grundgreif, Elisabeth Muller

Addresses: University of Passau, Innstrasse 27, D-94032 Passau, Germany. ' University of Passau, Innstrasse 27, D-94032 Passau, Germany. ' University of Passau, Innstrasse 27, D-94032 Passau, Germany

Abstract: Cluster initiatives are a common means to establish and foster positive externalities in regions. In such initiatives, cluster managers provide several supportive goods and services. Which portfolio of goods and services is provided depends on the cluster initiative|s intent of achieving public or private goals. The central question of this paper is in which way there is interference between the implementation of public and private goals and how this influences the provided portfolio. Based on in-depth interviews with the cluster managers of the temporary publicly founded Bavarian Cluster Offensive, which aims to be financed privately, we find that the planned transformation is not expected to succeed under the prevalent circumstances. The concept of cluster initiatives could be extensively improved if the goals of the cluster initiatives were formulated consistently regarding their role to promote private enterprises and networks or to perform public duties such as infrastructure development.

Keywords: public networks; industrial clusters; cluster management; cluster initiatives; cluster goals; public goods; club goods; public funding; private funding; Bavaria; Germany; public duties; infrastructure development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2011.041275

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2011 Vol.3 No.3, pp.262 - 280

Published online: 24 Oct 2014 *

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