Clusters in Automotive and Information & Communication Technology

Information & communication technology (ICT) and the automotive sector are two of the most important industries in the EU and the US. The EU's eastern expansion and economic globalization have reinforced competition on the one hand; on the other hand the importance of outsourcing and off-shoring has increased. Against this background the intensification of innovation dynamics becomes crucial - and with them the role of regional innovation clusters. The analysis examines seven regions and six EU countries. The focus is on cluster and network dynamics in both industries, as regional ICT clusters are playing an increasingly central role in many European regions. Specialization and structural change in the automotive sector are highlighted, and new strategic approaches for multinational companies and changes in policy options are identified.

Regional Innovation and Cluster Policies in the New and Old Economy. - The Hungarian ICT Sector - A Comparative CEE Perspective with Special Emphasis on Structural Change. - Industrial Clusters: Concepts and Empirical Evidence from East-Central Europe. - Regional Clustering Tendencies of the Hungarian Automotive and ICT Industries in the First Half of the 2000's. - Differences Between High Growth and Low Growth ICT Firms in Germany. - Innovation and Specialization Dynamics in the European Automotive Sector: Comparative Analysis of Cooperation and Application Network. - The Hungarian Automotive Sector - A Comparative CEE Perspective with Special Emphasis on Structural Change. - Specialization and Structural Change in the Automotive Industry in Selected European Regions.