Competitiveness clusters : a paradoxical approach ?

• Sergio ARZENI
  Manager of the programme on economic development and the creation of local employment, OECD
  
• Luc ROUSSEAU
  Managing director in charge of companies, Minefe
  
• Henri VERDIER
  Vice president, Cap Digital Paris Régional
  
• Pierre VELTZ
  Professor, École nationale des Ponts et Chaussées
  

Summary

Michael Porter popularised the idea that clusters are the source of competitivity in regions. In 2005, and in the face of increasingly staunch competition, French authorities launched an invitation to tender for projects with the intention of creating 'competitiveness clusters'. However, several paradoxes appeared at the very beginning. How can the State create competitive centres quickly when the success of clusters is often due to the necessary long period taken for society to mature ? Is the State capable of implementing a policy of regional concentration despite its tradition of being egalitarian, and in spite of rivalry between local authorities ? Will important industrial groups which are used to a succession of state-run projects really have sufficient confidence to invest ? What are the administrative criteria for the financing necessary to encourage very innovative, young companies ? The discussion here suggests that the initiative is promising but it is likely that the road to success will be difficult.

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Loïc VIEILLARD-BARON.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it for free in French (PDF help) or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference IN031207).

The entire article appears in French in the Journal de l'École de Paris du management N° 70.