Collaborative and collective! Reflexive coordination and the dynamics of open innovation in clusters

Ludovic Halbert (1)

1 Réseaux, Institutions, Territoires (RIT)

Economic geography increasingly conceptualises "innovation as a collective action" (Storper, 1996). However, cluster literature often reduces the collective dimension to the circulation of knowledge between local-regional organisations based on various forms of (market, organisational, social, institutional or cognitive) coordination. This paper departs from this grass-roots perspective by discussing the role of collective actions in clusters, i.e. actions developed by a large number of cluster members acting as a group. Empirical evidence drawing on a study of three digital clusters in the Paris region shows that the cluster as a collective entity holds agency and - thanks to reflexive coordination - can contribute to open innovation - including innovation-seeking partnerships in the early stages of cluster lifecycles.

Mots clés: open innovation; reflexive coordination; territory; collaborative; collective actions

Domaines: Géographie; Economies et finances

Ludovic Halbert. Collaborative and collective! Reflexive coordination and the dynamics of open innovation in clusters. 2010. ⟨halshs-00465111⟩