Biotechnology and multimedia : cluster dynamics in new industries

Abstract

The analysis of structures and processes of spatial agglomeration of new firms in the innovative sectors of biotechnology and multimedia seems to be a promising field for listening to the “background noise” of the regional concentration of economic activities. This paper is analysing the differences in the agglomeration tendencies of two economic sectors. Whilst new biotechnology firms are essen-tially dependent on science and research infrastructure, linkages to the market matter for newly founded multimedia companies. It is argued that differences in the innovation processes bring about distinct requirements for networking and thence lead to diverse forms of firm formation processes. The characteristics of interaction and networking in the early stages of firm foundation and sector evolution have a fundamental influence on the different spatial patterns of eco-nomic activity in the two examined sectors.