Carola Jungwirth/ Elisabeth Müller/ Susanne Ruckdäschel

Clustertypen  Eine Typologisierung und Charakterisierung regionaler Netzwerke

Cluster types. A typology of regional networks and their characteristics. This paper develops a typology of clusters in an attempt to map the heterogeneous cluster landscape. By combining the governance structure and the goals of a cluster as constitutive elements, we develop cluster types and compare them with regard to characteristics like their financing, the process of member selection and the degree of technology. Using a mixed-method analysis for an international sample of 81 clusters, we can distinguish three types of clusters. The cluster type that pursues both public and private goals is most frequently applied and offers advantages like higher positive self-selection and a base public funding in comparison to the other types of clusters that pursue either public or private goals.