By Eoin Byrne, presented at the 19th TCI Global Conference, Eindhoven, 2016.

1. Titel presentatie
[Naam, organisatienaam]
Working Day - Track: Academic Track
Cluster Evaluation
Dr Eoin Byrne
Incorporating Network Theory
and Visualisation into Cluster
Analysis: European ICT Clusters

2. Incorporating Network Theory and Visualisation into
Cluster Analysis: European ICT Clusters
19th TCI Global Conference
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh
Framework Programme for research, technological development and
demonstration under grant agreement no. 319907
Dr Eoin Byrne

3. Objective
1. Framing Cluster Evaluation
2. V-LINC Methodology & Application
3. Outputs of the research
2016-11-14 3

4. Which mountain to climb?
2016-11-14 4
ClustersCluster Initiatives/
Organisations
Cluster Policy/
Governance

5. Which route to take?
2016-11-14 5
Cluster Analysis –
How they operate?

6. V-LINC
1) Individual
Firm Analysis
2) Sample of
Firms in a
Cluster
3) Reporting
Data Visualisation
Tabular Data
Employees Provide
Expert Views on
Firm Linkages
SMEs
MNCs

7. Visualisations

8. V-LINC
1) Individual
Firm Analysis
2) Sample of
Firms in a
Cluster
3) Reporting
Data Visualisation
Tabular Data
4) Policy & Strategy
Development
Employees Provide
Expert Views on
Firm Linkages
SMEs
MNCs
Firm Level
Cluster
Level

9. Application of V-LINC
9
 Be Wiser – 7 ICT Clusters

10.  Cluster Reports
Results

11. Discussion
 Comparison of the V-LINC results for three regions
 Investigating three cluster determinants:
1. Value Chain Linkages – suppliers (input and specialist
service linkages) and customers (output linkages);
2. Knowledge Linkages – informal knowledge spillovers
(industry association and industry peer linkages) and
formal knowledge exchanges (R&D and training
linkages);
3. Economic Policy and Support – (government agency
and cluster organisation linkages).

12. Discussion
 Investigating three cluster determinants:
 Value Chain linkages, Knowledge linkages, Economic
Policy and Support
1. Value Chain Linkages: Do clusters require local
suppliers and customers to succeed, or should firms
focus on sourcing inputs globally and exporting
internationally?
 Clusters help build strategic value chain linkages
 E.g. Cork specialist services firms

13. Discussion
 Investigating three cluster determinants:
 Value Chain linkages, Knowledge linkages, Economic
Policy and Support
2. Knowledge Linkages: How dependent firms are on
local knowledge linkages and what is the relative
importance of external knowledge flows (Bathelt et al.,
2004; Owen-Smith and Powell, 2004; Wolfe and Gertler,
2004).
 Knowledge linkages are predominantly local.
 European and international linkages are more important
(Bathelt et al., 2004; Doloreux and Parto, 2005; Gertler and
Wolfe, 2006; Isaksen, 2009; Fitjar and Rodriguez-Pose, 2011).
 Île-de-France - values local knowledge linkages

14. Discussion
 Investigating three cluster determinants:
 Value Chain linkages, Knowledge linkages, Economic
Policy and Support
3. Economic Policy and Support: How does the
support from government agencies and cluster
organisations and the policy context affect a cluster?
 Regions, supports and economic policy vary
 Cluster policy can’t be applied universally
 Specific policy and initiatives are required for regions from
appropriate analysis

15. Thanks for your attention!
Dr Eoin Byrne,
Department of Management and Enterprise,
Cork Institute of Technology. Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork.
Mobile: 00353 86 0719451 Email: eoin.byrne@mycit.ie
This research has received funding from the European
Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research,
technological development and demonstration under grant
agreement no 319907