Title: Building virtual network for high-tech industry clusters: lessons from China

Authors: Jiang Yu; Wenchao Sun

Addresses: Institute of Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 15, Zhonguancun Beiyitiao, Beijing 100190, China. ' Institute of Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 15, Zhonguancun Beiyitiao, Beijing 100190, China

Abstract: Extending current theories about industry clusters, we set up a theoretical framework to explore the developing drivers in the emerging context from the virtual network perspective. By summarising previous studies, we find that clusters originate from two forces policy-driving or local environment. Taking Zhangjiang High-tech Park of China as an in-depth case study, we find out that policy-driving plays a more significant role at the knowledge-intense clusters in China. We conclude that the dynamics for virtual networking in high-tech industry cluster are mainly the industry environment, policy-driving, supporting infrastructure, network attributes, and the relative linkage. The contribution of this paper is to enrich the existing theory and identify the drivers to build virtual network for high-tech industry clusters in emerging countries like China.

Keywords: industry clusters; China; value chains; linkage; IC industry; virtual networks; semiconductor industry; high-tech clusters; high technology; knowledge-intensive clusters; emerging economies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2012.047882

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2012 Vol.11 No.1, pp.77 - 94

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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