Network Strategies for Regional Growth

The past twenty years have seen a shift in the economic policies pursued in many countries. Networks and networking have become buzz words in business, academe, and regional and national governments as the traditional macro-perspective on economic conditions has increasingly been superseded by a greater interest in the micro-economic business environment (Wilson 1995). The focus is no longer on specific companies or on the market in general; instead, specific relationships and networks between companies in a region are the object of policy-makers’ priorities. Vast public resources are now being poured into projects and programmes that aim to support the development of relationships between various companies in a specific region in order to achieve growth (see Figure 1.1). Governments worldwide are addressing regional and local development issues using a more decentralized approach, paying increased attention to resources and knowledge available at the local level and accessible through networking. As a result, regional plans and strategies often incorporate the aim of developing and maintaining relationships between companies in a region in order to achieve growth.