Global connectivity and the evolution of industrial clusters: From tires to polymers in Northeast Ohio

摘要: Abstract Industrial clusters are a critical component of the competitive viability economies around world. However, not static but evolve in response to technology and competition. This process has garnered interest from scholars practitioners, with focus primarily on local linkages networks. Although global knowledge ties have potential fuel innovation, scant attention been given connectivity context cluster evolution. We analyze comprehensive 30-year patent dataset (1975–2005) associated Akron industrial Northeast Ohio. The results also show that innovation survived spite long-term decline manufacturing activity employment. survival is driven by increasing specialization at level an emphasis technologies rather than products growing connectedness systems. A key implication our study importance anchor tenant multinational enterprises research institutions ensuring persistence through two processes (a) orchestrating networks; (b) spawning startup activity. provide support for recent work marketing suggesting network evolution both deterministic strategic aspects.